The second Warren Gatland era has begun in earnest and it wouldn't be like the New Zealander to name his squad without throwing some curveballs.
This is a squad selected to address the here and now with an eye on something bigger 10 months down the line. You can read it in full here.
Having previously raised concerns about the age profile of his squad Gatland has clearly attempted to get the balance right between achieving instant results in the upcoming Six Nations and blooding players ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
There were some suggestions Gatland might be bolder and select a young captain, perhaps Jac Morgan, but age and experience has won the day with Scarlets hooker Ken Owens getting the nod. The 36-year-old is the type of personality Gatland has always liked in his captains: forthright, experienced, while being vocal on and off the pitch. A few short months ago it looked almost certain Owens would retire having struggled to recover from a back injury but he has been a revelation since returning to action with the Scarlets and is the sort of inspirational leader which could breathe some new life into Wales.
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Gatland has also opted to stick with some of Welsh rugby's elder statesmen with the likes of Alun Wyn Jones and Leigh Halfpenny retained while Ospreys scrum-half Rhys Webb has earned a well-deserved recall.
However, there has been an infusion of fresh blood with powerful centre Mason Grady, Ospreys pair Keiran Williams and Rhys Davies, along with the biggest shock of them all Cardiff second-row Teddy Williams. The 22-year-old Williams has only started one game of regional rugby this season but at 6ft 6ins and 19 stone he fits the profile of a second-row Gatland wants in his squad.
It is clear Gatland views the boilerhouse as the position in most need of work, with uncapped pair Davies and Williams along with the once-capped Exeter Chiefs lock Dafydd Jenkins included. During the Wayne Pivac era, Wales struggled up-front with the loss of Jake Ball and Cory Hill to Japanese rugby a significant blow which went under the radar.
While Will Rowlands may come back into the mix, depending on whether the Professional Rugby Board grants him special dispensation to play in the World Cup following his move to Racing 92, Gatland really needs Davies and Jenkins to transfer their club form to the Test area as a matter of urgency.
Alun Wyn Jones' days are numbered on the international circuit beyond this year but Gatland clearly needs his experience, even if it's as an insurance policy, to mentor the likes of Davies, Jenkins and Williams.
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Arguably the most eye-catching selection in the back-row is Dragons loose-forward Aaron Wainwright, who had fallen out of favour with Pivac. But Gatland was a massive fan of the 25-year-old during his first stint in Wales. It is also clear there will be a big emphasis on dominating the breakdown, an area which was found wanting under Pivac, with Justin Tipuric, Jac Morgan and Tommy Reffell selected.
Wales' attacking game was pretty painful at times under Pivac and Stephen Jones, and it seems Gatland has also identified the back-line as an area in need of some minor surgery. Sure, there are some injuries but with the selections of Rhys Patchell and Owen Williams it has at least added some potential variety behind the scrum, while it is not an overstatement to say Grady could be as effective a carrier as Jamie Roberts was for many years in the long-run.
All in all, this is a squad which could make an impression in the Six Nations but it is very clear Gatland is quietly going about building a squad for the future.
Read more:
Warren Gatland announces new Wales coach at same time as Six Nations squad
Wales Six Nations squad in full as Ken Owens named captain and four uncapped players picked
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