An email this writer received on Monday revealed the sender nearly dropped the vegetables he had been carrying when he heard on the radio that a particular player had been included in Wales' 54-man preliminary training squad for the World Cup in France this autumn.
Quite a shock to the chap in question then.
But what of the players who failed to make the cut for Warren Gatland's gargantuan group?
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Quite a surprise for some of those, perhaps, albeit there was no news, say, of Lions Test man Wyn Jones dropping a sack of King Edward potatoes on his toes after learning that he was no longer considered among the top five loose-head props in Wales.
Still, all who'd harboured hopes of making the panel only to see their ambitions dashed would doubtless have been disappointed.
For those who’ve missed out, it is almost certainly the end of the World Cup road even before it has properly begun.
One player even made the decision for himself.
We assess his tale and take a look at certain players some will feel are unlucky not to be included in Gatland's 54.
Wyn Jones
Four years ago, two Scarlets props were cut from Warren Gatland’s plans when the final World Cup squad was announced, with Rob Evans and Samson Lee missing out. Now Wyn Jones fails to make even the preliminary lineup.
Rewind to 2021 and he was being seen as a potential Lions captain in Australia in 2025 after a strong tour of South Africa. The way things are shaping up, he’ll do exceptionally well to even get close to the squad.
Jones has started just three games for the Scarlets this year and has found it hard to recapture his form of two years ago.
Gatland saw him play against Glasgow Warriors on Saturday evening and also watched Kemsley Mathias.
He then picked Mathias and left out the more experienced man, suggesting Test rugby was changing with increased emphasis on players being able to get around the park as well as scrummage.
Corey Domachowski and Nicky Smith deserve their selections after fine seasons, while Gareth Thomas is now a proven Test operator and Rhys Carre can add impact.
Jones finds himself down the pecking order.
Never say never, but it’s a long way back for the 31-year-old.
Bradley Roberts
Those who tend to know if the cat moves at Rodney Parade are adamant that this guy has been one of the Dragons’ top-performing players this season. Roberts can whip up a storm and is never less than dynamic.
But he evidently hasn’t convinced the Wales selectors.
They had a close-quarters opportunity to assess what he brings during the Six Nations but just two outings as a replacement didn’t augur well.
Now he finds his regional team-mate Elliot Dee leapfrogging him, with Ryan Elias and Dewi Lake returning to the set-up after recovering from injuries. Ospreys pair Sam Parry and Scott Baldwin will be disappointed not to be involved this summer, as well as Roberts, but with Six Nations skipper Ken Owens also in the mix, the competition for hooking places was hot.
Ross Moriarty
He’s left to go to France and hasn’t featured for Wales over the past three campaigns, but they missed his hard edge during the Six Nations. Oh, and he made 23 tackles for new club Brive last week. He won't be at the World Cup this autumn, though, with Gatland saying the former Dragon had made himself unavailable for personal reasons. He offers something different and Wales could miss him.
Leon Brown
He’s built like a tank and carries with immense power but he’s started just two games this season. Injuries have hammered him and the rugby gods could do worse than give him a break. Maybe his potential durability has been a factor in his omission.
Thomas Young
There’s not much more he could have done over the season, with Young outstanding for Cardiff, reflected in his impressive performance figures at regional level. No Welsh rival has made more turnovers or tackles than Young in the United Rugby Championship this term. On Judgement Day, he was arguably the top-performing forward on display over the two games. Sadly for him, it hasn’t proven enough.
Morgan Morris
Here’s another one who must wonder what on earth he needs to do to secure a Wales call.
He’s been playing the house down week-in, week-out for the Ospreys.
Mike Ruddock once likened him to Ireland’s Sean O’Brien, while Toby Booth said Morris reminded him of former Toulon and London Irish man Steffon Armitage.
It probably wouldn't have mattered if someone had floated the idea that the Swansea-born player had Superman traits.
Wales just weren't going to pick him.
As with Thomas Young, the selectors seem to be looking for something different, perhaps more bulk and physicality in their back row, with Gatland stressing the need for balance, hence the selection of Dan Lydiate. Carwyn Tuipulotu was discussed but this World Cup has probably come a couple of years too soon for him.
All Morris and Young can do is keep delivering for their regions.
Sometimes, doors do open.
Not always, though.
Rhodri Williams
The Dragons’ captain is clever, sharp and innovative.
But Wales seem to have a blindspot over him.
Why that is the case is not glaringly obvious.
Rhys Priestland
He's been directing operations with such calm this season you'd fancy he could do a job guiding traffic on the Arc de Triomphe roundabout in Paris, where a dozen main roads come together.
Not much fazes Priestland.
He’s had a stellar season with Cardiff and many would say he deserves a place in the training group.
You wonder if his age has counted against him at 36.
But on form, he’s unlucky not to be in.
Rhys Patchell
Gatland knows what the Scarlet can bring and appears to like him as a player, but Patchell is another who hasn’t been starting enough this season, with just three outings in the his region's run-on side. Anyone unable to command a regular first-choice spot at regional level is always up against it when it comes to making a national squad.
Owen Watkin
Some things are just not meant to be.
Injuries have hit Watkin at the wrong time and others have come to the fore.
The 26-year-old is young enough to come again.
Joe Hawkins
“Ospreys centre Joe Hawkins (who holds five-caps) … has not been found to fit any criteria which would make him available for selection after signing up to play his rugby outside of Wales.”
With those words in a Professional Rugby Board statement, the Exeter-bound player's World Cup fate was sealed.
Gatland would have wanted him to be available after investing in the 20-year-old during the Six Nations.
Hawkins, after all, has the ability to pass off either hand, can truck the ball up if the occasion demands and has a kicking game that’s encouraged the Wales coaching staff to believe he could one day potentially play regularly at fly-half.
But he’s been found to be ineligible and is set to stay that way until his time in Devon is finished.
Hawkins chose to join Exeter, so not all will consider him unlucky.
That said, the likeable youngster is still young.
He'll have other chances with Wales.
But not this time.
Tom Botha
Wales haven’t been frightening anyone in the scrums and Botha is widely seen as a capable setpiece operator. He’s also assumed to be eligible as he this summer heads towards five years unbroken service with the Ospreys.
“He lives, breathes and tastes scrums,” said his Ospreys team-mate Elvis Taione last term.
Not enough for the selectors, though.
When Gatland’s list of five tightheads was announced, Tomas Francis, Dillion Lewis, Keiron Assiratti, Henry Thomas and Will Davies-King were on it, but no Botha.
Wales are looking for more mobile props and Botha is not one who racks up 20 carries a game, but he's on top of his basics and sometimes his sort are useful to have around.
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