The FOUR sides Wales could put out on a matchday

Wales

Wales have been slowly building depth over the last few seasons and has now amassed enough players to fill four different XV’s without repeating a player, with some left over.

Robert Rees brings you those four teams that could take the field for Wales.

The first XV – Pivac’s chosen ones

The first XV selected is arguably Wales’ best team and is filled with Lions, centurions and World Cup experience. 

  1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets)
  2. Ken Owens (Scarlets)
  3. Tomas Francis (Exeter)
  4. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys)
  5. Jake Ball (Scarlets)
  6. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons)
  7. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys)
  8. Taulupe Faletau (Bath)
  9. Gareth Davies (Scarlets)
  10. Dan Biggar (Northampton)
  11. Josh Adams (Cardiff)
  12. Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets)
  13. Jonathan Davies (Scarlets)
  14. George North (Ospreys)
  15. Liam Williams (Scarlets)

A hugely formidable side that could challenge anyone on their day, with the crux of the sides being Grand Slam champions and World Cup semi-finalists.

CHOFU, JAPAN – NOVEMBER 01: Alun Wyn Jones of Wales sings the national anthem ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2019 Bronze Final match between New Zealand and Wales at Tokyo Stadium on November 01, 2019 in Chofu, Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Team 2 – Fringe players unite

Now, team two is full of players who are first team players who didn’t get into team one, or those who battle on the fringe of selection.

  1. Rob Evans (Scarlets)
  2. Elliot Dee (Dragons)
  3. Dillon Lewis (Cardiff)
  4. Cory Hill (Dragons)
  5. Adam Beard (Ospreys)
  6. Aaron Shingler (Scarlets)
  7. Josh Navidi (Cardiff)
  8. Ross Moriarty (Dragons)
  9. Tomos Williams (Cardiff)
  10. Rhys Patchell (Scarlets)
  11. Jonny McNicholl (Scarlets)
  12. Scott Williams (Ospreys)
  13. Owen Watkin (Ospreys)
  14. Owen Lane (Cardiff)
  15. Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets)

Plenty of experience in the team with youthful exuberance mixed in.

10th November 2018, Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales; Rugby Union, Autumn International series, Wales versus Australia; Leigh Halfpenny of Wales puts the brakes on to look for an outlet (photo by Paul Jenkins/Action Plus via Getty Images)

Team 3 – Fresh faces galore

The third team in this list is that of fresher faces. A few are established test players, but are aided by a plethora of newly capped, or uncapped squad members.

  1. Rhys Carre (Saracens)
  2. Ryan Elias (Scarlets)
  3. Leon Brown (Dragons)
  4. Will Rowlands (Wasps)
  5. Seb Davies (Cardiff)
  6. Ollie Griffiths (Dragons)
  7. James Davies (Scarlets)
  8. Taine Basham (Dragons)
  9. Rhys Webb (Bath)
  10. Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff)
  11. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester)
  12. Nick Tompkins (Saracens)
  13. Willis Halaholo (Cardiff)
  14. Steff Evans (Scarlets)
  15. Jonah Holmes (Leicester)

A side with flourishing domestic players, some of which are untested, but barring medical nightmares, shoe-ins for Pivac’s sides to come.

Gallagher Premiership Rugby player of the month is Gloucester Rugby, Louis Rees-Zammit who is presented his Gallagher Player of the Month Trophy by Antony Carlile, Account Director at Gallagher. – PHOTO: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK/Gallagher

Team 4 – Not a bad reserve side

Team four has a smattering of tried and tested players, who maybe haven’t quite kept their impact, or those who have battled injuries with a few who are just blossoming on to the test scene.

  1. Nicky Smith (Ospreys)
  2. Kristian Dacey (Cardiff)
  3. WillGriff John (Sale)
  4. Bradley Davies (Ospreys)
  5. Josh Turnbull (Cardiff)
  6. Dan Lydiate (Ospreys)
  7. Thomas Young (Wasps)
  8. Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff)
  9. Rhodri Williams (Dragons)
  10. Jarrod Evans (Cardiff)
  11. Luke Morgan (Ospreys)
  12. Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler (Ospreys)
  13. Steff Hughes (Scarlets)
  14. Hallam Amos (Cardiff)
  15. Dan Evans (Ospreys)

If this side were to be put out against a Uruguay or tier two side in a midweek World Cup match you certainly wouldn’t complain.

CARDIFF, WALES – FEBRUARY 23: Hallam Amos of Cardiff Blues is tackled by Charly Trussardi of Benetton Treviso during the Guinness Pro14 Round 12 match between the Cardiff Blues and Benetton Rugby at Cardiff Arms Park on February 23, 2020 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images)

Alongside the four sides you can still pick a pretty handy ‘Those who missed out’ list.

  • Owen Williams (Gloucester)
  • Samson Lee (Scarlets)
  • Cory Allen (Ospreys)
  • Dan Baker (Ospreys)
  • Will Boyde (Cardiff)
  • Aled Davies (Ospreys)
  • Shane Lewis-Hughes (Cardiff)
  • Josh Macleod (Scarlets)
  • Sam Davies (Dragons)
  • Tyler Morgan (Dragons)
  • Matthew Morgan (Cardiff)
  • Ioan Lloyd (Bristol)
  • Dan Thomas (Bristol)
  • Mat Protheroe (Bristol)

74 extremely talented players who have either had extended spells with Wales and are currently in the squad, those who have gone out of favour but not out of form and then you also have the next crop of young athletes raring to come through and give test rugby a shot.

 

“Main photo credit”

Wales
The roof will be open for the final round of Wales’ Six Nations campaign. Credit @Rreesrugby,