It’s a long time ago since Wales sprang a surprise in selection by fielding seven forwards and eight backs for a clash with England.
The Welsh experiment in those far off days of 1906 got off the ground, with a side that introduced the concept of the rover behind the scrum winning 16-3 at Richmond.
Wales beat Scotland next time out with the same strategy, only to lose against Ireland when they reverted back to eight forwards.
Selectors can be hard to read.
No-one should expect Wayne Pivac to be so bold in his pick to face Ireland this week, though he’d probably like to use 10 forwards against the formidable home pack, but only if he could use 10 backs as well.
But Wales' head coach does have certain issues to resolve as team announcement day draws close.
We take a look at the four areas that will prompt much burning of the midnight oil in the coming days.
Adams and the midfield mix
Not for the first time has a Wales coach had a dilemma over who to pick in the centre.
Back in the 1990s, Graham Henry had to choose two from Scott Gibbs, Mark Taylor, Allan Bateman and Leigh Davies, while Nigel Davies was still performing with distinction for Llanelli.
What of the present issues?
Rewind to last November and Willis Halaholo and Nick Tompkins finished Wales’ block of Tests in situ, with Halaholo taking the inside-centre shirt in the win over Australia.
Pivac seemed to have a ready-made pairing to take him into the Six Nations.
But Halaholo has a hamstring problem that leaves him a doubt for the game with Ireland on Saturday and Pivac himself has introduced a measure of uncertainty at outside centre by talking of Josh Adams being able to play in multiple positions. "Where will he end up in this series? We'll work that out in training,” said the coach.
It leaves us in a state of mild confusion.
Adams is a proven Test wing with an appetite for tries and a track record for decent defence. What would picking him in midfield say about the other centres in the squad?
This should be so simple.
Nick Tompkins had a fine autumn campaign and could be used at 13, with Owen Watkin and Jonathan Davies left to fight it out for the 12 shirt if Halaholo is out of contention.
The time to experiment in selection is in non-tournament matches, and no-one can be sure how Adams will shape up as a Test starter in midfield.
Perhaps Pivac is trying to befuddle the Irish with mind games.
Or maybe he sees the idea of Adams playing in midfield as a means of accommodating Johnny McNicholl and Liam Williams in his back three.
Whatever, it’s a difficult one to work out what's running through the coach's mind.
Liam or Johnny?
The potential issues here are linked to the coach’s midfield selections.
If Josh Adams is named in the centre, that frees up Pivac to choose a back three of Liam Williams, Johnny McNicholl and Louis Rees-Zammit, with Alex Cuthbert available to step in should there be injuries.
Rees-Zammit, whose try for Gloucester against Newcastle should not so much be seen on catch-up TV as exhibited in some form in the Louvre, has to play because he can score at any time from any place against any opposition.
Adams is likely to occupy the other wing spot if he’s considered for a wide role, leaving Williams and McNicholl to contest the No. 15 jersey.
It’s not an easy choice as Williams hasn’t been ripping up trees by the forest-full of late.
But look up the phrase Test-match animal and the chances are the explanatory words would be accompanied by a picture of the Scarlet.
He finished the autumn with outstanding performances against Fiji and Australia and coaches don’t easily forget.
He still looks the man for the job.
Stick or twist at No. 1
It must have been encouraging for Pivac to watch Wyn Jones spend 67 minutes on the field for the Scarlets against Bristol Bears, scrummaging against Kyle Sinckler and then John Afoa, and not concede a single penalty.
He needed to bank such a performance, too, because for a number of reasons he has taken time to move up the gears this season.
Wales training will doubtless have shed more light on where the Scarlet is at.
The choice here seems to be a straight one between Jones and Gareth Thomas, with ongoing questions over Rhys Carre's scrummaging.
Thomas is a powerful specimen who has gone well in the set-piece for the Ospreys this term.
Wales’ coaches will surely not forget Jones featured in a Test for the Lions in the summer, but they also passed him over as a starter for two games in the autumn amid talk of the 29-year-old being undercooked.
It’s a tight call with the odds marginally being on Jones’ experience swinging the verdict his way.
Don't bet the inheritance on it, though.
Moriarty versus Jenkins
Ellis Jenkins began the final three games of the autumn, leading Wales in two of them, but there’s a debate over whether his best position is at openside.
The assumption is Pivac will opt for Taine Basham at No. 7 and Aaron Wainwright at No. 8, with Jenkins left to take his chances against Ross Moriarty for the blindside spot.
Moriarty was the Dragons’ standout player against Benetton on Friday evening. Considering it was his first game since October 30, his performance was remarkable, involving strong leadership, powerful carries, a try and non-stop effort.
Might he be used at No. 8 instead of at blindside, with Aaron Wainwright switching to six?
Let's not complicate matters.
Pivac is trying to develop Wainwright at Test level as a middle-of-the-back-row option, so it would be odd to shift him at this point.
Those predicting an all-Dragons back row of Moriarty, Taine Basham and Wainwright, then, are probably on the money.
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