It will be a tricky selection for Pivac... but could this be his first XV as Welsh coach?
IT’S a tricky selection for Wayne Pivac in his first game as Wales coach, with his team hit by countless injuries and unavailabilities.
The match on November 30 is only a bit of fun, uncapped and against the Barbarians.
But the new national coach won’t be laughing if his side lose against opponents guided by his Wales predecessor Warren Gatland. It wouldn’t mean a great deal in the grand scheme of things, but coaches have their pride and a good start would create positivity ahead of the Six Nations.
The indication is that Pivac will go strong with his selection, with an eye to the Six Nations, but circumstances may yet necessitate the odd surprise.
We look at the team the New Zealander could select...
Cardiff Blues’ new signing from the Dragons had a strange old World Cup, butchering three tries on the wing against Uruguay and then catching the eye at full-back against New Zealand.
Let’s take a punt and suggest Pivac will forget the Uruguay debacle.
At the back against the All Blacks, Amos made more runs and metres than Beauden Barrett. He is a classy player who could just develop into something special if he can steer clear of injuries and win the coaches’ faith.
Leigh Halfpenny? Recovering from concussion. It’s an uncapped game, so why not give him an extra week off?
Wales supporters will be looking forward to seeing what the newly qualified McNicholl can do.
They are unlikely to be disappointed. The Scarlet is a 24-carat box-office attraction, a player put on this earth to entertain and score tries.
He has pace, skill and his first instinct is to attack. Those who have studied him since he arrived in Wales say there’s room to tighten his defence, but there are not many better finishers, whether from full-back or wing. 13. OWEN WATKIN
The Ospreys youngster is likely to be given first crack at laying claim to the jersey temporarily vacated by Jonathan Davies because of injury.
Of course, Wales could start with Willis Halaholo.
But such a selection, in a backline with fellow adopted Welshmen Johnny McNicholl and Hadleigh Parkes, would be bold after a week that has seen online chatter about rugby’s residency rule and all its merits and demerits.
Don’t rule it out, with Pivac fully entitled to say Wales are only playing by the rules and making the most of what’s available to them.
But perhaps it’s more probable Halaholo will be introduced off the bench.
12. HADLEIGH PARKES
He had a challenging World Cup after playing through it with a cracked bone in one of his hands.
But Pivac knows Parkes’ worth having coached him at the Scarlets.
If he’s deemed fit, he is likely to start. If not, Watkin could figure at 12 with Halaholo outside him.
11. JOSH ADAMS
His star is high in the sky after a global bash that saw him score seven tries, a Welsh record for a single World Cup edition. Nor was it just about Adams crossing the whitewash.
He also looked for work and never hid at any point, even in the game against Fiji when he had any number of good reasons to go missing, with Josua Tuisova and Semi Radradra not just in the opposition ranks but in the mood.
Adams responded with a try-hat-trick. He’s hugely reliable and Pivac will want him in his side.
10. JARROD EVANS
The Cardiff Blues’ box of tricks returned to his best form with a high-quality display against the Cheetahs recently.