How deep do they go? The options facing coach Pivac in all positions
THE words “strength in depth” were banded about on more than a few occasions during Warren Gatland’s final years in charge of Wales.
As a result, Wayne Pivac has inherited a relatively healthy playing squad. But how does each position stack up in terms of its credible depth? And who is front of the queue in each position in terms of a likely starter?
We’ve drawn up a depth chart filled with realistic Wales squad contenders and rated each of the positions in terms of the strength of depth there, taking into account the number of options and the quality of the players.
Some players might appear in more than one position if they can, indeed, play in a variety of positions around the field, so don’t be too surprised if you see a name pop up for a second, or even third, time.
So, with all the formalities out of the way, here’s how Wales’ depth chart looks...
LOOSEHEAD PROP
The options: Wyn Jones, Rhys Carre, Rob Evans, Nicky Smith
Had you done this a year ago, the pecking order would have been largely on its head.
Evans would have been firstchoice, with Smith nipping at his heels.However, Wyn Jones nailed down the jersey during the World Cup, while Rhys Carre’s stock has risen considerably.
As for Evans, his stock fell after his World Cup omission but he worked his way back into contention in the Six Nations squad under Pivac.
The likely pick: Wyn Jones
Depth rating: 6/10
HOOKER
The options: Ken Owens, Ryan Elias, Elliot Dee, Dewi Lake,
The Sheriff, Owens, has had a monopoly on the Welsh hooker jersey for around half a decade now.
When it comes to deputies keeping Owens on his toes, Dragons hooker Dee has been present for some time.
Elias has shown signs of real potential recently and might well have usurped Dee as the next cab off the rank. Neither have really shown enough when it comes to starting Test matches yet.
And then there’s Lake. He’s yet to play a senior game for the Ospreys, but was handed a call-up when Dee dropped out the Six Nations squad through injury.
Certainly one for the future and he appears to have jumped ahead of a few others on the outskirts, but he’s still an unknown quantity at the start of his development.
It’s still very much Owens out in front, with the options behind him still somewhat raw at the moment. The likely pick: Ken Owens
Depth rating: 5/10
TIGHTHEAD PROP
The options: Tomas Francis, Dillon Lewis, Leon Brown, WillGriff John, Samson Lee
Onto the tight-head section and it’s an area of relative potential.
When back from injury, Francis is a likely starter after signing an extension to his Exeter deal.
Then there’s three props with plenty of upside at Test level. Lewis is one to be excited about, while Brown has turned a corner at the scrum in the past year.
John appeared to take some time to get accustomed with the rigours of Wales camp, but he was set to be rewarded with a start against Scotland before the match was postponed.
As for Lee, his stock has unfortunately fallen - missing out on the World Cup and this year’s Six Nations.
The likely pick: Tomas Francis Depth rating: 6/10
SECOND-ROW
The options: Alun Wyn Jones, Cory Hill, Adam Beard, Jake Ball, Will Rowlands, Seb Davies, Aaron Shingler
You could split the second-row into loosehead and tighthead but, for the sake of simplicity, we’ll judge the whole lock department as a whole.
Obviously, Alun Wyn Jones is still Alun Wyn Jones. Little else is needed to be said on the captain.
Then there’s a raft of strong contenders to start – like Hill, Beard and Ball.
Wasps lock Rowlands is a viable option after emerging during this year’s Six Nations, while Davies has been a recent call-up.
And then you have flanker Shingler being capable of packing down in the boiler room.
The likely picks: Alun Wyn Jones and Cory Hill
Depth rating: 7/10
BLINDSIDE FLANKER
The depth: Josh Navidi, Aaron Wainwright, Ross Moriarty, Aaron Shingler, Ellis Jenkins
Moving into the back-row and starting with the blindside position.
Navidi is a man capable of playing across the back-row and, for many, is a must-start for Wales regardless of the number on the back of his jersey.
Wainwright enjoyed a meteoric rise prior to last year’s World Cup and looks like a key Wales international for years to come.
Moriarty’s best position is arguably blindside, but it might not be his best chance of starting – given the distribution of talent in the back-row.
The last specialist in the position is Shingler, who has shown his Test worth since coming back into contention in the last few years. If Wales opted to go for a dualopenside, then a fit-again Jenkins could also come into the thinking of Pivac.
The likely pick: Josh Navidi
Depth rating: 7/10
OPENSIDE FLANKER
The depth: Justin Tipuric, Josh Navidi, James Davies, Ellis Jenkins, Ollie Griffiths, Taine Basham
Is there a position as strong as openside flanker in Wales?
At the front of the queue is Tipuric, who has excelled since making the jersey his own following Sam Warburton’s retirement, while Navidi and a soon-to-be-fit Jenkins also put forward a strong claim.
James Davies took some time to get a cap but he’s looked more than capable when given an opportunity.
Two names worthy of mention at the Dragons are Griffiths, who would have more caps by now were it not for pesky injuries, and Basham, who earned a call-up for the Barbarians match last year.
The likely pick: Justin Tipuric Depth rating: 9/10
NUMBER EIGHT
The depth: Taulupe Faletau, Ross Moriarty, Josh Navidi, Aaron Wainwright
Number eight has been a bit of a problem position in Wales – with the regions all struggling at one time or another to really fill the jersey convincingly. And so, the position isn’t exactly well-stocked.
Obviously you have Faletau, a truly world-class option and two-time Lions tourist.
Beyond that, Moriarty and Navidi are better-placed in other positions but can do far more than just fit in at number eight.
And Wainwright did start there in the World Cup against Uruguay, although you doubt his long-term future is in the position.
The likely pick: Taulupe Faletau Depth rating: 4/10
SCRUM-HALF
The depth: Gareth Davies, Tomos Williams, Rhys Webb, Kieran Hardy, Rhodri Williams
The battle for the scrum-half jersey is pretty well-trodden by now.
Gareth Davies has largely been the first-choice since Rhys Webb was captured by the 60-cap rule, although Tomos Williams has been chomping at the bit to snatch the starting spot from Davies.
Now, Webb is back from France and back in contention, adding to Pivac’s selection headache.
Even with World Cup third choice Aled Davies leaving Wales to join Saracens, there’s still talent beyond the three frontrunners. Hardy looks like a real prospect, while Williams has impressed for the Dragons.
The likely pick: Tomos Williams Depth rating: 8/10
FLY-HALF
The depth: Dan Biggar, Gareth Anscombe, Rhys Patchell, Jarrod Evans, Sam Davies
If the depth at scrum-half is strong, it’s a similar tale for the half-back partners.
Biggar will go down as one of Wales’ greatest fly-halves, but Anscombe will be determined to wrestle back the jersey he had made his own when he gets back from injury. Whenever given the chance, Patchell has looked a composed Test starter, while Evans looked calm when thrown into a Six Nations battle in Dublin earlier this year.
After impressive performances for the Dragons, Sam Davies is on the outskirts of the squad.
The likely pick: Dan Biggar
Depth rating: 9/10
The depth: Nick Tompkins, Owen Watkin, Willis Halaholo, Johnny Williams, Scott Williams Having been a bit of a problem position, midfield is slowly turning a corner in Wales – even with the departure of Hadleigh Parkes and Owen Williams as options.
Tompkins’ arrival on the scene is certainly exciting moving forward, while Watkin has been steadily building up Test experience for the past two years.
Halaholo was on the brink of a Wales debut last year, only to have to pull out of the squad for the Barbarians clash due to injury, while Scott Williams won’t be giving up on his Test career yet after fighting so hard for a World Cup spot last year.
The likely pick: Nick Tompkins Depth rating: 6/10
OUTSIDE CENTRE
The depth: Jonathan Davies, Nick Tompkins, Owen Watkin, Scott Williams, Tyler Morgan, George North
There’s only one choice when it comes to outside centre. Jonathan Davies is still, unequivocally, first choice.
Beyond him, Tompkins, Watkin and Williams can all do jobs in the 13 channel but it’s not their favoured position. Morgan will be hoping to put an injury nightmare behind him following his move to the Scarlets.
And then there’s the option of North moving to midfield, which seems to crop up every now and then.
The likely pick: Jonathan Davies Depth rating: 4/10
WINGS The depth: Josh Adams, George North, Liam Williams, Johnny
McNicholl, Owen Lane, Louis Rees-Zammit, Jonah Holmes, Hallam Amos , Ashton Hewitt, Steff Evans When it comes to wings, Wales are currently pretty blessed.
North is a Test Lion, while Adams is one in waiting.
Then you have Liam Williams readily available if he doesn’t get the nod at full-back.
Behind those three, McNicholl is a solid winger who has yet to find his feet at Test level, while Lane looks a future star yet to get a break when it comes to injuries.
The form of 18-year-old starlet Rees-Zammit has everyone talking, while Holmes and Amos are capable of doing a job out wide.
The likely pick: Josh Adams and
George North Depth rating: 8/10
FULL-BACK
The depth: Liam Williams, Leigh Halfpenny, Jonah Holmes, Hallam Amos
Since Liam Williams made his Test debut in 2012, it’s been a two-horse race for the Welsh full-back jersey with Leigh Halfpenny. And that’s unlikely to change any time soon.
New Dragons recruit Holmes is an option at the back, while Cardiff Blues’ Amos’ best position is arguably 15.
Fly-halves Anscombe and Patchell have also done decent jobs there in the past but both have since made bigger plays for the 10 jersey they desire so probably aren’t viewed as credible contenders barring emergency.
But, ultimately, it’s a shootout between Williams and Halfpenny. That’s not a bad headache to have.
The likely pick: Liam Williams Depth rating: 7/10