There are plenty who’ll want new faces hurried into Wales team plans after the calamitous 22-21 reverse against Italy — but where are the fresh personnel to be found?
The regional teams are largely struggling, with few players demanding inclusion in Wayne Pivac’s plans. And while there are injured players still to return to rugby, the reality is the team the head coach sends out for the first Test against South Africa in the summer will mainly be made up of players who were in his squad when he came to selecting for the game with Italy.
That doesn’t mean it will be the same XV as the side who started against the Azzurri. That would be odd.
Possibly, there could be as many as nine changes and maybe a key positional switch to factor in as well. There have been warnings some might not play for Wales again and certainly many can expect to step aside come the Springboks clash, at least.
Assuming he remains in charge, here’s how we think Pivac’s pick will unfold for the first game with the world champions at Loftus Versfeld on July 2, the first of three Tests against South Africa in the summer.
15: Liam Williams
Still no real challenger to Williams, with Leigh Halfpenny apparently a fair way off returning after his knee injury. Johnny McNicholl started well against Italy, taking a number of high balls, but he mixed the good with the bad thereafter.
Williams hasn’t been perfect in this Six Nations but there have been glimpses of his quality. Wales will want him to be at his very best for the tests that await in South Africa.
14: Alex Cuthbert
Should consider himself unfortunate to have been left out for the game with the Azzurri after a stellar performance against England and a more than decent shift against France. Louis Rees-Zammit has pace to burn and the sight of him in full flight is something to behold, but the youngster needs to improve the defensive side of the game.
The challenge for Cuthbert is to continue imposing himself on matches. Do that and there’s a fair chance he’ll go to the World Cup.
13: George North
You’d have thought the big man would be good to go by the time the tour comes around. He’ll need to pack in some rugby with the Ospreys, to get back up to speed after his injury, but provided all goes well on that front, Pivac will likely want North in his squad for the South African challenge.
Wales could do with his power and presence against the Springboks. Owen Watkin, a quiet success at 13 in this Six Nations, will hold the shirt in the event of any hitches with North.
12: Nick Tompkins
No. 12 is proving a nightmare position for Pivac, with no-one nailing the spot down. Scott Williams? It still seems unlikely, given that he hasn’t featured in his Six Nations. Willis Halaholo? Didn’t seize his chance on Saturday. Jonathan Davies? Selection over the past six weeks doesn’t suggest so.
Pivac could be tempted to pick Owen Watkin, who it’s hard to recall making a mistake against Italy — something that’s not to be sniffed at, given that pretty much everyone else was messing up.
But Tompkins had been his choice at 12 before picking up a head knock midway through the tournament. He had also been in form. Probably, he’ll get the vote.
11: Josh Adams
Aside from the horrendous final minutes against Italy, when he incurred the referee’s wrath for dissent and then missed Ange Caupozzo as the little man sped upfield to set up Italy’s match-winning try, Adams had a fine game. Those late issues were impossible to forget when it came to assessing his performance, though.
He had an up-and-down tournament overall but remains Pivac’s first-choice wing.
10: Dan Biggar
A Welsh rugby servant such as Biggar deserved better than to have his 100-cap day rained on, but such is rugby. He will know as well as anyone about the slings and arrows of sporting fortune.
But he has just had a good Six Nations for Wales, notwithstanding that it didn’t go well against Italy. In some of the other games, notably against Scotland and France, he was very good.
9: Tomos Williams
The best performance by a Welsh scrum-half over the past two months came from Williams against England. His kicking was good and so was his running; he was also inventive. On song, he’s a class act.
Wales' nines against Italy can expect Williams to leapfrog above them against the Springboks.
1: Gareth Thomas
There isn’t a lot between Thomas and Wyn Jones. The former has given Wales extra ball-carrying impetus in the front five after Jones and Tomas Francis failed to make a single metre against England.
But Jones looked on a mission when taking the field against Italy, catching the eye with several charges himself. Either player will do a job.
2: Ryan Elias
It’s a flick of a coin here, with Elias and Dewi Lake having performed strongly during this Six Nations. Indeed, in defeat Lake was one of Wales’ best players against Italy, his highlights including 11 carries for 44 metres, a try, nine tackles and two turnovers.
But Elias has been good as well. Will Ken Owens be ready to rejoin the fray? Good options for Pivac, then.
3: Tomas Francis
A player’s worth to a team can often be gauged by how they perform in his absence. Francis may need to carry more ball, but he is a serial ruck hitter and when he plays the Welsh scrum always goes better.
One more thing: the official Six Nations figures reveal that 26 players gave away at least one scrum penalty this term. Francis wasn’t among them. That has to count for something, particularly when the next opponent to be faced at Test level is set to be Steven Kitshoff.
4: Will Rowlands
Alun Wyn Jones? A conversation needs to be had about what’s best for him at this stage of his career. Would he be best served by having six weeks off and a proper pre-season? Or should he tour South Africa, return and start next term a shade late with a busy run-in to the World Cup to be contemplated?
Some facts: Saturday was his first game in close on five months, but in 60 minutes he made more metres with ball in hand, 25, than all but three of the starting locks in the final round of the Six Nations. He also banged in eight tackles and came up with other stuff that doesn’t lend itself to statistics.
Only Adam Beard and Tadhg Beirne passed the ball more than Jones over 80 minutes, too, while the former Wales skipper made more offloads than any of his 11 starting second-row rivals.
Maro Itoje made five metres more than him over an entire game against France, but he also managed just five tackles and missed four. Such stuff happens, but Wales lost and the mood music is different.
And, of course, Itoje played against the Grand Slam winners, not the bottom team. So perspective required, of course.
That Jones can play better is not in doubt, but he will know more than anyone that places have to be earned at Test level and past deeds do not guarantee places. If they did, Barry John would still be Wales’ fly-half.
Will Rowlands has come through over the past two campaigns and Adam Beard has performed well, too. Arguably, Rowlands has been Wales’ player of this Six Nations.
So the world changed while Jones has been away and it’s over to him to respond. It would be a surprise if he didn’t relish the challenge. But expect Rowlands to start the first Test of the summer.
5: Adam Beard
He’s Pivac’s vice-captain and has largely had a positive Six Nations. He’ll know he still has scope to improve and he needs to carry more and dominate games more, but his defence is good and he stepped forward to steady the Welsh lineout after an early wobble against Italy.
His passing was another plus.
And let's face it — having two 6ft 8in locks could come in handy against South Africa.
6: Josh Navidi
“Why are Wales picking a second row in the back row?” So ran the question at 7.30am on Sunday outside a paper shop near where this writer resides.
Why, indeed.
Seb Davies is a talented ball-handling forward who many feel is more suited to lock. Potentially, he could be an outstanding asset taking the field late on as opponents tire.
Navidi is gritty and good at doing the unflashy stuff that can be a blindside’s lot. Three turnovers against Italy underlined his worth to Wales. Pivac would be better served having a specialist openside and using the dreadlocked one at No. 6.
7: Jac Morgan
Justin Tipuric hasn’t yet been ruled out, but it would be a surprise for him to be available for the South Africa tour. His injury has been a bad one and all concerned will be pleased just to see him back on the field. His next few months should be about doing everything by the book and not resuming on-pitch matters a moment before he’s ready.
Morgan offers Wales a breakdown presence and he has worked at his carrying game. South Africa will be a brutally tough trip and if Wales are to compete they need to be on top of the basics before worrying about any Hollywood stuff. Resolute in defence and able to turn ball over, the Osprey could be the man for this particular assignment.
8: Taulupe Faletau
Nothing to see here. There isn’t another Welsh No. 8 in the same galaxy as Faletau.
He plays. End of story.
