Much midnight oil is set to be burned over the coming days with Warren Gatland mulling over which players to name in his Wales World Cup training squad.
Doubtless, he’ll involve many, if not all, of those he used during the Six Nations. Quite how many surprises the New Zealander will come up with remains to be seen.
Even so, there have been plenty of players Gatland hasn’t rewarded with caps this term who have been to the fore on the regional scene.
Read more: Today's rugby news as Wales duo ready for farewells and Scarlets get European boost
Some of the regional stars have been from overseas. But there are also many Welsh players who have pointed the way for their teams.
Here’s the best XV of the regions this term.
15. Angus O’Brien (Dragons)
He’s 28 and still uncapped; perhaps he will always be uncapped — selection is subjective, after all. But on the evidence of this season, there’s a case for believing the Dragons player should be at least looked at closely by Gatland. As skilful as he is bold, O'Brien is not short of flair and he has a big kicking game.
A bonus is that he can play at fly-half as well, but most of his games this term have been played at full-back. He's been a class act throughout.
Unlucky to miss out: Johnny McNicholl (Scarlets).
14. Rio Dyer (Dragons)
Wales commitments took him away from the Dragons at times but he still played 15 games for them and posed a threat every time he took the field with his electric pace and ability to leave opponents floundering. When he played against the Ospreys in October, he terrified their defence with his pace and ability to exploit chances. He has improved as a player since his elevation to the Wales set-up, too, with his chasing of kicks relentless.
Unlucky to miss out: Steff Evans.
13. Rey Lee-Lo (Cardiff)
"In my opinion he probably doesn't get the accolades he deserves when you speak about this club; you talk about the likes of Paul Tito, Casey Laulala and Xavier Rush but he's as good as them. What he's brought to this club has been immense. He's at the top of the tree for me.”
So said outgoing Cardiff coach Richard Hodges about the outstanding Samoan. Lee-Lo can defend, but it’s in attack where he really comes to the party with his eye for a gap and ability to rip through even the smallest gap. He’s 37 now, but he’s still been one of the best centres in the United Rugby Championship this season.
Unlucky to miss out: Mason Grady (Cardiff).
12. Keiran Williams (Ospreys)
Wales found it hard to break tackles during the Six Nations but didn’t pick this guy or even include him in one of their matchday squads. Answers on a postcard, please. Williams was never less than impressive for the Ospreys with his ability to drive through tackles and make metres.
So many opponents would have looked at him and fancied their chances, only to find themselves unable to halt the powerful 26-year-old. His display against Leinster in January, when he beat 11 defenders, made 73 metres and put in 15 tackles, was extraordinary.
Unlucky to miss out: Max Llewellyn (Cardiff).
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff)
Some players over the years have allowed their form to drop when stepping away from the Test scene to play for their clubs; not Adams. Eleven tries over 11 appearances for Cardiff this term underline as much, with his double against Sale earlier this month highlighting his quality. He plays as if every game has a lot riding on it and he is much more than a finisher, with the 49-cap player an alert defender who few opponents manage to expose.
Unlucky to miss out: Ryan Conbeer.
10. Rhys Priestland (Cardiff)
If this does prove to be Rhys Priestland’s final season in professional rugby, then he has signed off in some style with the Wales international at the centre of so much that was good about Cardiff. Like a snooker player thinking half-a-dozen shots ahead, Priestland stays ahead of opponents because of his brainpower and ability to execute plays, buying himself time with his anticipation and awareness.
His effort against the Stormers in October was on a different level. “I thought he was absolutely sublime, just superb. That was right up there in terms of a tactical kicking display from a 10, no question. He was magnificent,” said Stormers coach John Dobson later. You can read about the night Priestland awed rival coach here.
Unlucky to miss out: Jarrod Evans (Cardiff).
9. Tomos Williams (Cardiff)
It’s been a strange old campaign for Williams. For Wales, he found himself downgraded to the bench, only to end the season with a blistering cameo against France. But for Cardiff he’s been consistent and impressive, never better than against the Ospreys last weekend when he shone in opposition to his Test rival Rhys Webb. Rhodri Williams is another who has played well, while Gareth Davies has delivered for the Scarlets, but Williams has been the pick.
Unlucky to miss out: Rhys Webb (Ospreys).
1. Nicky Smith (Ospreys)
Wales have had a blindspot over Smith despite his stellar form for the Ospreys. It’s another great mystery of our time. Rewind to his region’s game with Leinster in January when Smith gave opposing prop Michael Ala’alatoa a free flying lesson at one scrum. If his set-piece game has been impressive, so has his work around the field, with Smith into everything against Saracens in the Heineken Champions Cup. It’s been an immense season from him, albeit one that didn’t see reward at Test level.
Unlucky to miss out: Corey Domachowski (Cardiff).
2. Bradley Roberts (Dragons)
It’s been a fine first campaign with the Dragons for Roberts, with almost a thousand minutes of action banged in for the east Walians, much of it explosive and all of it committed. Whether off the bench or as a starter he’s made a mark with his form propelling him into Wales’ squad for the Six Nations. The former Ulster man will surely rate a mention or two on awards night at Rodney Parade. Dewi Lake has been a big presence for the Ospreys, but injuries have hampered him. For Cardiff, Liam Belcher has shone around the field.
Unlucky to miss out: Dewi Lake (Ospreys).
3. Tom Botha (Ospreys)
The quiet man from Bellville in South Africa is not one to make a fuss about anything, but he has helped the Ospreys make a mess of more than one opposition scrum this season. He relishes the pushing-and-shoving game and is good at it, as well, with his squat frame allowing him to generate impressive power.
There are few bells and whistles to what Botha produces on a rugby field, but he defends well and can anchor a scrum, something he’s shown repeatedly over the past eight months. Eligible for Wales this summer after five years with the Ospreys, he may just interest Warren Gatland.
Unlucky to miss out: Dmitri Arhip (Cardiff).
4. Vaea Fifita (Scarlets)
Is he a lock, a blindside, a bird or a plane? We know he can lash out when the red mist descends, but we also know he can take off from 85 metres out and there’s not a lot anyone in the opposition ranks can do about it — just ask the entire Glasgow Warriors’ defence on duty at Scotstoun on the night of April 15 when Mr Fifita raced upfield at improbable speed on a filthy night late in the game to touch down only to see his effort disallowed after a ruck infringement.
Overall, Fifita has had a superb season for the Scarlets, proving a must-see act whatever number is on his back.
Unlucky to miss out: Adam Beard (Ospreys).
5. Sam Lousi (Scarlets)
Another one who’s had the odd brush with officialdom — there was a sending off against Zebre in October — but the 6ft 6in Tonga international has also been worth his 19st 1lb in gold to the Scarlets with his all-action displays. If he’s not turning opposition ball over, he’s galloping around the field as a carrier or picking the ball up one handed at a ruck and befuddling rival players.
Maybe the Dragons’ Gonzalo Bertranou is still trying to work out what happened after Lousi held the ball high in the air with one hand, feigning to pass, before touching down himself in a game last season. There’s been more of the outrageous this term as well, mixed with uncompromising basics.
Unlucky to miss out: Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys).
6. Josh Turnbull (Cardiff)
At 35, Turnbull probably isn’t as quick as he was. Maybe he feels the knocks a bit more these days. But his worth to Cardiff is off the chart. This term, he has banged in 1,683 minutes on the field, starting in 22 out 23 matches. When turbulence has hit from all sides, the captain has been there with leadership from the front. We’ll call his contribution priceless and leave it at that.
Unlucky to miss out: Ethan Roots.
7. Thomas Young (Cardiff)
This felt like picking one from Leonard, Duran and Hearns circa 1981. Jac Morgan was immense for the Ospreys but hasn’t played for the Ospreys since February, while Justin Tipuric has also been a 9/10 performer but missed games while out injured and with Wales. Maybe Thomas Young just edges it, then. Two hundred or so tackles in the United Rugby Champions and many turnovers hint at his contribution. There have also been carries and tries. He has had a wonderful campaign.
Unlucky to miss out: Jac Morgan.
8. Sione Kalamafoni (Scarlets)
Maybe the position with most players contesting it, with Morgan Morris, Taulupe Faletau and Aaron Wainwright having delivered in spades for their teams. But all roads ultimately lead back to Kalamafoni. Even when the Scarlets were rocking early in the season, their No. 8 was rolling, carrying relentlessly and piling up big tackle counts.
When the west Walians picked up in mid-term, Kalamafoni pointed with the way with consistency that could fairly be described as eye-popping. Ball carry after ball carry. Morris has similarly fronted up in adversity, but this one goes further west.
How the Scarlets will miss the France-bound 34-year-old.
Unlucky to miss out: Morgan Morris (Ospreys).
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