Wayne Pivac was always going to have to look to the future at some point after inheriting an experienced squad from Warren Gatland.
He has done just that too, giving Wales debuts to 26 newcomers since he took over from Gatland after the last World Cup. Some have prospered at Test level since, others have found it much more difficult. A few have been unlucky with injuries.
We look at what has happened to each and every one of the 26 Wales have welcomed onto the Test scene under Pivac as they approach World Cup year.
We assess the chances of making it onto the plane for France 2023 for every one of them. Some are shoo-ins, fair to say others have fallen back and have work to do.
Johnny McNicholl
(Debut v Italy, February 2020)
The first of Pivac’s debutants, the back-three ace showed flashes of swash and buckle in his first game. Injuries haven’t helped him, but with his aerial ability and finishing skills he’s very much liked by Pivac.
World Cup chances: There or thereabouts.
Nick Tompkins
(Debut v Italy, February 2020)
Came on against Italy in the coach’s first competitive game in charge. Rare has been the Wales game in which the centre has played since when he hasn’t looked busy. Indeed, his worth and adaptability have been such that The Times once called him Pivac’s Swiss army knife.
World Cup chances : A shoo-in.
Will Rowlands
(Debut v France, February 2020)
Made a mark on his debut at lock with strong carrying in his 15 minutes on the field. Welsh rugby’s player of the year in 2022 has shown since he can defend at Test level as well and also compete strongly at lineouts. An unqualified success, then.
World Cup chances : Inked in.
Sam Parry
(Debut v France, October 2020)
Big and immensely powerful, he came up with a strong burst of form to reclaim his Wales squad place for the recent tour of South Africa, underlining he is still very much in the hooking mix, even if he didn’t win a cap in the republic.
World Cup chances: Competition will be stern, but Parry will make a fight of it.
Louis Rees-Zammit
(Debut v France, October 2020)
Came on for 19 minutes in a friendly clash in Paris and made an immediate impact with his ability to accelerate clear of would-be tacklers. The wing looked a gem, then, and appeared even better — more rounded — against South Africa this summer.
World Cup chances: He’ll be on the plane to France.
Shane Lewis-Hughes
(Debut v Scotland, October 2020)
Styled as a young Alun Wyn Jones when breaking into the Wales set-up and had a decent first full campaign, carrying hard and showing resolve in defence. Injury has since checked the back-rower's progress.
World Cup chances: Will need to hit a purple patch of form.
Callum Sheedy
(Debut v Ireland, November 2020)
Creative and clever and potentially a menace to opponents. “Everything about him says Artful Dodger — chatting away and then you realise your wallet has gone. That is how he plays,” said Will Greenwood. He’s been in and out since his debut, and didn’t feature in Pivac’s latest squad, with Rhys Patchell joining the fly-half pool with Dan Biggar and Gareth Anscombe.
World Cup chances: He still has hopes but will need to impress as campaign unfolds.
James Botham
(Debut v Georgia, November 2020)
He’s physical and a competitor who doesn’t give in without a fight. But he also plays in an area of the team, the back row, that’s ultra competitive. Another one who hasn’t been helped by injuries.
World Cup chances: While he’ll give it his best shot, he has a lot to do.
Kieran Hardy
(Debut v Georgia, November 2020)
Has taken his chances and, on the evidence in South Africa this summer, is now Wales’ first-choice scrum-half — though it’s fair to say these matters are never set in stone. Has shown himself to be quick, an opportunist and able to control play, with his box-kicking against South Africa outstanding.
World Cup chances: He’d be wise not to book a holiday for September 2023.
Johnny Williams
(Debut v Georgia, November 2020)
Burst through on the Test scene with some impressive displays in midfield in the autumn of 2020, prompting Pivac to label him a new Hadleigh Parkes ‘with X factor’. A couple of fitness setbacks put him out of contention but he played well towards the end of last term and earned a Wales squad recall without adding to his cap tally in South Africa this summer.
World Cup chances : All to be played for.
Ioan Lloyd
(Debut v Georgia, November 2020)
He’s out of Welsh rugby’s magic circle, for sure, but he’s also been out of favour with Wales since a couple of defensive glitches in his first two Tests. He’s set to be considered as an inside centre for Bristol in the new campaign, though, and will be looking to catch the eye. He has attacking gifts that make him an attractive opposition, but Pivac will want to be convinced of his defence.
World Cup chances: He’s an outsider, but a supremely talented outsider, so there is a dot of hope.
Willis Halaholo
(Debut v Scotland, February 2021)
Appeared off the bench for his debut and looked cut out to play Test rugby with his dangerous running. He’s really needed a run of games to establish himself with Wales, but untimely knocks have hit his hopes. That the Cardiff centre has attacking gifts — and ability over the ball — isn’t in doubt, though.
World Cup chances: Hot competition where he plays, but he is a creative runner and a potential game-changer who might just come into the picture.
Ben Carter
(Debut v Canada, July 2021)
The Caldicot RFC lock product produced a performance of remarkable maturity on debut as he ran the Welsh lineout with intelligence against Canada and made a mark around the field, earning him the man-of-the-match award. One social media user called him an “absolute colossus”. He’s still only 21 but has taken his cap tally to six since.
World Cup chances: A strong campaign could swing a place for him, but plenty of others will be pushing hard at lock.
Tom Rogers
(Debut v Canada, July 2021)
Came up against Canada’s best player on the day in Kainoa Lloyd in first Wales game and operated behind a smashed pack in his second outing, against Argentina, so it’s fair to say Rogers was on a steep learning curve early in his Test career. He hasn’t featured since but the wing or full-back is a player with the right attitude and a lot to offer.
World Cup chances: Is coming from a long way back but his form towards the end of last season was encouraging.
Gareth Thomas
(Debut v Canada, July 2021)
It’s barely a year since his first Wales start but he has made a lot of progress since and finished the campaign amid plaudits for his efforts as a starter in all three Tests against South Africa recently, with Adam Jones calling the loosehead “brilliant”. Not only did Thomas scrummage well he also defended valiantly. You can read more about Jones' thoughts here.
World Cup chances: He’ll be in contention for the starting XV.
Taine Basham
(Debut v Canada, July 2021)
Marked his debut with two tries and had a top autumn campaign which saw the multi-skilled Dragon emerge as arguably Wales’ best-performing player. The Six Nations was tougher but Basham held his squad place for South Africa, and did his reputation no harm with a bright effort off bench in final Tests.
World Cup chances: Has such a wide skillset he will go close, but the competition is set to be ferocious at openside.
Ben Thomas
(Debut v Canada, July 2021)
He’s a ball player who’s can play at centre, fly-half or full-back but Wales haven’t come calling since he won a cap off the bench against New Zealand in October, three months after his debut against Canada. With his attacking skills, the assumption is Wales will be in touch again, but when that will be we do not know.
World Cup chances: Hard to see it happening this time.
Matthew Screech
(Debut v Argentina, July 2021)
Featured as a lock replacement against Argentina during a 33-11 defeat for Wales last summer. Hundred percent effort is guaranteed with Screech, but he has yet to be rewarded with a second cap.
World Cup chances: Will need much to happen in his favour to make plane.
Kirby Myhill
(Debut v New Zealand, October 2021)
Will never forget his Test debut, when he came on in the final quarter against New Zealand in overdrive, with the All Blacks running in 19 points in 15 minutes, including three tries. Myhill is another who always gives his all but he remains stuck on one cap for his country.
World Cup chances : Odds against for the hooker.
WillGriff John
(Debut v South Africa, November 2021)
He’s a giant and so strong with it that the assumption might be he’d be immovable in the scrums. But Wales don’t seem completely sold on him and he’s waiting to add to the two caps he won last year.
World Cup chances: Injuries happen and John has experience and was a respected scrummager in the English Premiership, but the tighthead looks a long shot at this point.
Bradley Roberts
(Debut v South Africa, November 2021)
An interesting guy who came on against South Africa last year and straightaway launched a pinpoint throw to the back of an important lineout. Let’s call that encouraging. The hooker also excelled as a carrier for Ulster before picking up an injury against Ospreys later in campaign.
World Cup chances: Don’t rule him out, albeit he’ll need to hit form in the new season.
Christ Tshiunza
(Debut v Fiji, November 2021)
Capped twice in the autumn and impressive he was, too, albeit as an impact sub. He has the physicality for Test rugby and he stood out for Wales in the recent U20 Summer Series. Undeniably, the hard-hitting lock or blindside flanker appears a player with a big future.
World Cup chances: He’s only 20 but Wales enjoyed what he brought last term and a big season could propel him into the reckoning.
Dewi Lake
(Debut v Ireland, February 2022)
Some players seem born to play Test rugby. Lake is one of them. He’s robust, powerful and a leader. He has shown up well around the field every time he has taken the field for Wales so far. If he can improve his throwing, the hooker could go on to enjoy a huge Test career.
World Cup chances: Count him in.
Jac Morgan
(Debut v Scotland, February 2022)
It’s been stop-start with him early in his Test career, with his exclusion for the trip to South Africa a shock to many, especially so given that he’d been one of the players of the season at regional level in Wales. But the No. 7 is a battler who will be up for the challenge of proving himself to the selectors afresh.
World Cup chances: Evidently has work to do to convince Pivac but Wales picked a horses-for-courses squad for South Africa so everything isn’t lost, even if the openside competition is blast-furnace hot.
Tommy Reffell
(Debut v South Africa, July 2022)
Took his opportunity brilliantly with three top-class displays against South Africa, when he was arguably Wales’ player of the series. Reffell is a tough and physical openside who relishes the fight. He couldn’t have done much more than he did against the Springboks.
World Cup chances: Very good, because he’ll have plenty of credit in the bank after his superb displays in South Africa.
Sam Wainwright
(Debut v South Africa, July 2022)
The prop should be able to dine out for a long time on stories of what happened in those late scrums against the Boks in the second Test when he held firm to help Wales to a historic victory. His effort was huge.
World Cup chances : The selectors won’t forget what he the young tighthead did in South Africa, but others are set to return to fitness in the new season and Wainwright is still learning his trade.
Read next:
Nigel Owens names the five best stadiums in the world he's refereed in
What became of the 42 rugby players officially named the most promising in Wales
