There was a time when Nicky Smith being named in a Wales squad was a formality, particularly under former head coach Warren Gatland.
But it has been more than a year since the loose-head prop has been seen anywhere near the Test arena, with his last appearance there coming against Argentina in the summer of 2021. Ahead of the most recent campaign, he did not really form part of the debate, with few demanding answers when he was deemed at least fourth choice. He quietly became a forgotten man.
A strange slide down the pecking order, then, for 28-year-old forward, who was part of the 2019 Rugby World Cup squad that made it to the semi-final in Japan.
