Once, it was all so certain. A time traveller could leave 1967 and resurface a decade later still knowing who Wales’ scrum-half would be.
Gareth Edwards made 53 unbroken appearances for his country over 11 years. His selection was as predictable as a red scarf at Anfield, carols at Christmas or tears after a Strictly Come Dancing final. The sun rose in the morning and set at night, Edwards wore the Wales No. 9 jersey — iron laws, though Chico Hopkins still claims there were times when he deserved to play ahead of his more renowned rival.
There was continuity, too, when Terry Holmes was around, and when Rob Howley, Dwayne Peel and Mike Phillips were in their pomp, with Phillips starting 67 games for Wales. Once, amid suggestions Warren Gatland wasn’t happy at the prospect of a lot of his players playing abroad, a Wales international of the era said: “What’s he going to do? Drop Mike Phillips?”
