Wales may be under the direction of a new head coach by the time the Six Nations starts, so the job of predicting the likely starting XV for the opener against Ireland isn’t an easy one.
One thing is certain — to stand any chance of winning, it will need to be good against the current top-ranked side in the world.
As things stand, certain players are sidelined by injuries.
Read more: Warren Gatland heads up list of contenders to replace Wayne Pivac, with Steve Tandy also in frame
Will they be back in time for the first round of the championship? Some stand more chance than others on that front.
So what will the line-up be to take on Johnny Sexton and his mates.
Here’s what it could be.
Liam Williams
Welcome back, Liam Williams?
The new coach, or perhaps the old coach, will hope so after his long-term injury.
If the self-styled professional bomb defuser can prove his fitness, there’s every chance he’ll find himself back into the Wales starting XV for the date with the Irish.
Spare a thought for Leigh Halfpenny, who must have walked under every ladder he’s encountered in recent times, passed people regularly on the stairs and cracked every mirror at home, so unlucky has he been.
Williams hasn’t exactly been mishap-free himself.
If he’s ready, though — and the signs have long been positive that he will be — then he’s the man.
Louis Rees-Zammit
The autumn has seen the continued rise of bright, young attacking back-three players such as Italy’s Ange Capuozzo and Georgia’s Davit Niniashvili, whose first instinct is to run, and run dangerously.
Wales have a similar asset in Rees-Zammit but they couldn’t work him into space this month.
But the Gloucester flying machine is an exceptional player who can’t be left out of the starting line-up.
George North
North could hold his head in the air after his effort against Australia, with some of his defensive reads falling into the category of top class. The same applied against Argentina.
The next challenge for Wales will be to supply him with more front foot ball.
Do that and their attacking game might just take a great leap forward.
Nick Tompkins
The future was on view at No. 12 against Australia, and it worked, with Joe Hawkins having a largely impressive game. OK, there was a concerning moment in the second half when he couldn’t clear his lines quickly enough, but the 20-year-old debut-maker showed enough composure with ball in hand to suggest he could be the long-term answer at inside centre for Wales.
In the meantime, it’s back to Nick Tompkins, ruled out of Saturday’s game through playing his rugby in England but busy and effective when he features for Wales.
Josh Adams
It’s been a strange old autumn for Adams, who has had little certainty come his way.
He started on Saturday, but out of position at full-back after initially being named on the bench. The fact that he made a decent fist of the job underlined the all-round contribution he can make.
Wales could have Alex Cuthbert and Rio Dyer also in the wing mix — potentially, Johnny McNicholl, too.
But maybe Adams, with his fine record in Test rugby and his ability to come up with scores when needed, just edges it.
Dan Biggar
Wales have missed him, notwithstanding that Gareth Ansombe played well before the injury that saw him leave the field on 55 minutes against Australia. The shoulder problem looked serious enough to leave Anscombe as a potential doubt for the start of the Six Nations.
But at least Wales should have Biggar back after his injury.
His drive, will to win, influence on others and all-round package of skills make him priceless to the Welsh cause.
Tomos Williams
Sadly, he was injured early on against Australia.
But the Cardiff man had a good autumn, with his effort against Argentina a particular high.
He’s ahead of his No. 9 rivals heading towards the start of World Cup year.
Gareth Thomas
One of the standouts of Wales’ final three games after an uncertain start against New Zealand, when the hosts saw their scrum repeatedly crunched.
Thomas got the better of his next three opponents at set-piece time and is quite the defender with his fearless chop tackling.
Now out on his own as Wales’ top loosehead.
Ken Owens
There was once a Welsh hooking candidate who got younger every time this writer spoke to him. Years would pass and this Benjamin Button character wouldn’t get any older. The same went for a prop who used to play for Wales, in his case with two years being lopped off his age.
Both wanted to convince people they were more youthful than they were in order to bolster their international prospects.
Ken Owens doesn’t bother with such matters.
He’s 35 but this autumn he’s played like he’s 25, re-establishing himself as Wales’ top No. 2 after injury.
Dillon Lewis
Wales have trusted him with the No. 3 shirt over the past three Tests and he has repaid them with solid efforts in the pushing-and-shoving game and good work around the field.
It’s now up to Tomas Francis to respond.
But Lewis rightfully has the jersey.
Adam Beard
He seemed to be galvanised and banged in a good second half against Australia.
That after a fine show against Argentina.
The selectors like him because he’s a safe lineout option and he does a lot of unseen work.
His work-on for the Six Nations will be to impose himself more consistently.
Alun Wyn Jones
“Once the s-word is used, you normally start at three months. That’s a rule of thumb.”
So said Ospreys head coach Toby Booth when discussing the potential return of an injured player recently.
The s-word in question was surgery.
Will Rowlands has had an operation after damaging a shoulder playing for Wales against Argentina on November 12, and Wales start their Six Nations campaign with a home game against Ireland on February 4.
Do the maths.
These things don’t fall into the category of being a precise science, but Rowlands will need at least a couple of games to regain game fitness as well.
So the odds are on Alun Wyn Jones starting.
The old warrior rolled back the years against Australia with a performance that belied his age. There were charges in openfield, with the ball held in one hand. There was also a try assist, while the rampaging Wales No. 5 made 39 metres from his seven runs. There were also 10 passes, more than any other forward on either side managed on the day. “Has he been spending time down in Fiji,” one reporter asked after one Jones sleight of hand.
Amid doubts over Rowlands, then, the former captain should stay in the starting line-up.
Jac Morgan
How can this guy not start after his autumn displays? Wales’ Ardie Savea, Tom Shanklin called him in TV commentary on Saturday, only quarter in jest, as Morgan positively tore through tackles and dished out any number of uncompromising hits himself. You can read more about Morgan's performance here.
He’s been a regular in the post-match mixed zone this month because his displays have been so good and the WRU’s media team only tend to put up players with positives to reflect on.
Whoever is Wales coach for the Six Nations, there’ll be something wrong if Morgan is not lining up in the opener.
Justin Tipuric
His autumn campaign hit a peak with his effort against Argentina, but he also tackled himself to a standstill against New Zealand.
Tipuric has a creative touch that adds to the Wales back-row mix.
But he remains one of the team’s finest defenders as well.
Captain for this series, he’s going to be a prominent figure all the way through to the World Cup.
Taulupe Faletau
Where do you start? Sixty-three tackles and just one miss over four games? Thirty-six carries for 171 metres? Two tries? What a series Faletau has had. Wales may have struggled but he’s sparkled.
Of course, no-one is irreplaceable.
But Faletau comes close. "God help us when he decides to call it a day," Dan Biggar said recently. "He's been operating at such a high level for so long, he's a very difficult person to replace."
Anyone disagreeing go to the back of the class.
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