There are some positions in the Wales rugby team where Warren Gatland might feel he has a cast of thousands vying for the shirt.
Openside flanker is one. Wayne Pivac handed the No. 7 jersey to eight different players during his 34-game reign — Justin Tipuric, James Davies, James Botham, Taine Basham, Thomas Young, Jac Morgan, Josh Navidi and Tommy Reffell, for those who are putting together Christmas quizzes — but there are still more quality players in the position who are out there, to the point where any openside not banging in 8/10 performances every week can forget playing for Wales any time soon.
Such depth isn’t apparent across the board. Of course, it isn't.
In some positions there is still a debate about whether Wales have the right pieces in the jigsaw, inside centre among them.
In a perfect world, Wales would have a Gavin Henson for the 2020s, a player blessed with sublime passing skills, innate rugby intelligence, sound defence and the ability to kick a ball further than some people go on holidays and also able put in short dinks behind defences. Sadly, such individuals are not exactly commonplace.
Of course, hard and straight runners can still do a more than adequate job.
But sides with a gifted 12 who can make good decisions and execute a range of plays have an advantage over those not blessed with such an individual. To have a second playmaker in a side is a plus that brings added creativity and takes pressure off the fly-half. And it is never a negative to have extra skill in a side.
Just last year, Mark Ring told WalesOnline: "A lot has changed in rugby. But it’s a load of b******s to suggest everything is different. Skills still matter.”
Quite who will fit the bill at inside centre, then, for Wales under Gatland in 2023 remains a moot point.
Nick Tompkins is as industrious as they come and a proven performer in the Gallagher Premiership. He turned himself into Wayne Pivac's favourite, starting all three summer Tests in South Africa and the autumn matches against New Zealand and Argentina, before being ruled out to face Georgia and then returning to Saracens for Australia as that was outside the official Test window.
Gatland may well have different thoughts to Pivac, though.
Owen Watkin is reliable and solid in defence, Johnny Williams runs hard and breaks the gainline, Willis Halaholo can beat opponents with a step and has a nice passing game, Jonathan Davies is an old Gatland favourite and tried and tested over a long period and young Joe Hawkins showed remarkable maturity against Australia (you can read more about Hawkins here).
All are good players, but is there a standout candidate there? Is there anyone who can say at this point his name is on the jersey for the 2023 Six Nations opener with Ireland on February 4?
“I still think 12 is up for grabs,” said ex-Wales centre Tom Shanklin. “There are different options.
“I thought Joe Hawkins did very well against Australia in the autumn and looked comfortable in his first game in a Welsh shirt — which is probably the best compliment I can give. You couldn’t tell it was his first cap and some of the touches he had were really nice. That’s the mould of 12 we need to look at.
“We need someone who can create at 12 and not just be a direct runner.
“Johnny Williams could soon be back fit, Nick Tompkins we don’t see too much of him because he plays in England, although he’s playing for a great team in Saracens.
“A lot of it will depend on what Gatland wants to do and how he wants to play. No-one for me is massively putting a hand up.
“If we want to play a little bit wider, we have to play with a ball player. If we want to play a little bit more direct, then maybe we go with a Johnny Williams, who would give you gainline, and maybe a Nick Tompkins.
“Scott Williams, for me, is still the best 12. I’ve been saying it for the past few years, but he can’t stay fit enough for long.
“Wales are probably looking towards the future now. It could come down to these next few games, leading up to the Six Nations and whether we get the chance to see Owen Williams at 12. The honest answer is that I don’t know [who will play there].”
That said, the other midfield spot appears sorted, with George North holding the shirt for the last seven Tests and having a fine autumn series with his displays against Argentina and Australia particularly strong.
“George would be 13,” said Shanklin. “His development over the autumn was clear to see. We know he’s good in attack, but the hardest thing to learn is the defensive side and he became excellent at it — being able to read plays, being able to know when to blitz in and when to stay out.
“I want to see him playing as the 13 for the Ospreys every single week, something that was lacking at the start of the season. But he’ll be 13.”
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Gatland will have in mind who he wants. Max Llewellyn is out of the immediate midfield equation because of injuries, but he and his Cardiff mate Mason Grady are likely to take the next step at some point, with the 6ft 5in, 17st 5lb Grady blessed with a wing’s pace, as he demonstrated against Newcastle last weekend.
Right now, though, the issue for the coach is to find his No. 12. Applicants should form an orderly queue in reception.
- Tom Shanklin is part of the Viaplay team bringing fans every game from the BKT United Rugby Championship throughout the season. You can join Shanklin, Shane Williams, Ross Harries and Rhys Ap William for back-to-back Welsh derby action on December 26, when Dragons take on Cardiff (2.15pm kick-off) followed by Ospreys v Scarlets (5.15pm), and New Year’s Day with two more Welsh derbies scheduled. Visit www.viaplay.com for more information. Viaplay is available on Sky, Virgin TV, Amazon Prime and online through the Viaplay App.
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