Six Nations Selection

Warren Gatland has included 6 uncapped players in his six nations training squad who will take to Poland to endure a rigorous training regime. The chosen six are in-form Ospreys duo Rhys Webb and Ashley Beck, Cardiff Blues flyer Harry Robinson as well as Rhodri Jones, Liam Williams and Lou Reed of the Scarlets.

The squad in full reads:

Backs: Mike Phillips (Bayonne), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Rhys Preistland (Scarlets), James Hook (Perpignan), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Gavin Henson (Cardiff Blues), Ashley Beck (Ospreys), George North (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Harry Robinson (Cardiff Blues), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Lee Bryne (Clermont Auvergne)

Forwards: Craig Mitchell (Exeter Chiefs), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Paul James (Ospreys), Rhys Gill (Saracens), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Cardiff Blues), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Lou Reed (Scarlets), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), Sam Warburton (capt, Cardiff Blues), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Toby Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), Andy Powell (Sale Sharks).

The most talked-about inclusion is that of the marmite man of Welsh Rugby; Gavin Henson. Your opinion on his selection will either be greeted with welcome optimism or it will make your blood boil, dependant on your views of the ex-Osprey. Those who love him will say that he offers something at 12 that no one else can offer. He’s an absolute rock in defence, he’s got a siege-gun boot and he can unlock the most rigid defences with ease as well as class. He’ll be viewed as an alternative to the uber-physical centre partnership of Jamie Roberts and Jon Davies. Those on the other side of the fence will question the validity of his selection given that he’s only played 3 games of rugby for the Blues and only one of which was at his preferred position at inside centre. Added to this, Henson has failed to make even the match-day squad for their crunch Henieken Cup match against Racing Metro this weekend. Henson’s inclusion has meant that Stephen Jones’ international exile is extended further from missing out the only autumn international against Australia in December.

Gatland’s foreign player policy is all but extinct with French trio Lee Byrne, James Hook and Mike Phillips all making the cut as well as English-based Rhys Gill, Andy Powell and Craig Mitchell.

Sam Warburton keeps hold of the captaincy from the returning Matthew Rees following his well documented success as skipper in New Zealand. Both have publicly stated their desire to wear the captain’s armband and Warren Gatland has stuck to the theme of breeding youngsters in the international environment by backing his 23-year-old over his 32-year-old. This could be the main reason; however, Matthew Rees isn’t guaranteed his place given the World Cup form of Osprey Huw Bennett. Bizarrely and typical of the Ospreys, since returning from New Zealand, Bennett has played second fiddle to Richard Hibbard in the Celtic League as well as the Heineken Cup. The Ebbw Vale man must be wondering why he’s starting the majority of his games on the bench when he’s in possession of the national number two jersey. Furthermore, the man keeping him out of the starting berth at the Ospreys doesn’t even feature in the Welsh squad. Yet another head-scratcher for those on the outside looking in to the Liberty Stadium.

One man in particular must be sat questioning everything that surrounds him today. He’s a stand out performer for his region and has all the physical attributes for the international stage. Although his performances for Wales have not been as eye-catching as his performances for his region, he’d have still been confident of a spot in the 35-man-squad. One can only imagine the rage circling Aled Brew’s body as he see’s young pretenders Liam Williams and Harry Robinson get the nod ahead of him. There is no denying that they are both unquestionably talented and their inclusion in the squad will stand them in good stead for the future. However, if these wingers are deemed good enough to be exposed to the full national set-up, surely there’s a case for Ospreys fly-half Matthew Morgan? With Gatland only opting to name Rhys Priestland as his only out and out number ten, is there no place for a third option alongside James Hook? There are five wingers in the squad as well as Lee Byrne and Scott Williams who are more than capable of deputising on the wing. Understandably, the selection committee are looking for a long-term replacement for retired hero Shane Williams, but Brew must be seething that he’s not seen as one of the five front-runners.

Although 35 players have been named in the squad, Gatland has expressed,

"We are also taking the opportunity to look at one or two youngsters before probably cutting our numbers even further before the start of the RBS Six Nations.

"We have kept a couple of older heads and we have injuries, with Alun Wyn Jones, Josh Turnbull, Rob McCusker and Luke Charteris all unavailable to us, but the emphasis on development and planning for the future is there for everyone to see.

"These are exciting times for Welsh rugby.

"We showed a huge amount of potential at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and we will be working as hard as humanly possible to ensure that we reach our potential in this year's Six Nations championship."

The potential that the Wales Head Coach refers to is indeed quite staggering, especially in the backline. Barring injury, the team could look like this;

15. Lee Byrne
14. George North
13. Jon Davies
12. Jamie Roberts
11. Lee Halfpenny
10. Rhys Priestland
9. Mike Phillips
8. Toby Faletau
7. Sam Warburton (c)
6. Dan Lydiate
5. Bradley Davies
4. Ian Evans
3. Adam Jones
2. Matthew Rees
1. Gethin Jenkins

16. Huw Bennett
17. Paul James.
18. Andy Powell
19. Justin Tipuric
20. Rhys Webb
21. James Hook
22. Gavin Henson

If this squad takes to the field for the majority of the six nations, there won’t be many teams that will match it for talent. The only area of concern for Gatland’s men is the second row. This heaps yet more pressure on Robin McBryde as he looks to sure up the lineout which has been an area of limited success in the past. With his two main jumpers gone in Alun Wyn Jones and Luke Charteris, he’s got his work cut out. Sort this area out and Wales will be a serious force in the tournament, if it remains creaky, all that potential in the backline will go to waste.

Hook, Line and Sinker

So this week confirmed the final details of Wales’ biggest export. James Hook had previously stated that he’d be leaving The Liberty Stadium at the end of the 2010/11 season, but his final destination had yet to be established. He had originally been linked with the Cardiff Blues in the summer after their outside-half berth had been left vacant when Sam Norton-Knight(mare) moved from the club having (extremely) unsuccessfully deputised after the departure of Nicky Robinson in 2009. When talks amounted to nothing within Wales, clubs outside of the land of the leek showed their interest. Leicester, Harlequins, Toulouse, Biarritz and Toulon all expressed their want for him, but the likely winners were always going to be Perpignan. With Nicholas Laharrague, Thomas Bosc and Manny Edmonds sharing the number 10 shirt in the South of France, Hook has been promised regular rugby at outside-half, a position he has publicly spoken of his desire to play at the Ospreys.

The mule-like stubbornness of the Ospreys coaching staff has essentially cost them their most skilful and all-round footballer. Sean Holley and Scott Johnson have reiterated their beliefs that Hook is better suited to the 12 or 13 shirt, which has riled many rugby fans in Wales and further a field. The constant selection of Dan Biggar at 10 is somewhat similar to a fire alarm singing its tune when you’re trying to butter your slightly browned toast. The Ospreys academy product is an undoubted talent for a 19 year-old, but nevertheless, he is still a teenager. Hook had barely turned 24 when the Ospreys management began looking for a fresh-faced number 10 to replace him. It’s a mystery to many why he hasn’t been employed at 10 more often for region or country. Of his 44 Welsh caps, only 13 of them have been at fly-half and the ratio is even less compared with this season’s statistics with his region.

The fact that James Hook isn’t playing regular rugby at 10 has sparked comment from a number of past and present players. Phil Bennett stated:

“James has had to move with Wales and the Ospreys into the centre or sometimes to full-back and has become a bit of a utility player. I think he needs to be the star man. When you look at the recent great international teams, who are their star men? For New Zealand it's Dan Carter and Matt Giteau and Quade Cooper for Australia (playing at outside-half).”

This lack of game-time at fly-half is made all the more staggering by the fact that he was the 1^st choice 10 when Wales won the grand slam in the 2008 Six Nations Championship. Scoring 44 points along the way and only missing with one kick, the then 22-year-old was already being hailed as the latest product of the ‘Welsh Outside-Half Factory’. Staggeringly barring Marty Holah, Justin Marshall and Filo Tiatia the remaining 13 Ospreys took the field in the opening game of the tournament against England at Twickenham. At this time, he was starring for the Ospreys at fly-half having made a big impression playing for in the Principality Premiership with Neath RFC. Since then, the boy from Baglan has found himself out wider at 12, 13, 15 and sometimes in the distant, bitter 21 and 22 shirts. His versatility has probably cost him at times, but his class cannot be argued and is the first name on the team sheets of Messer’s Gatland and Johnson the only decision to me made is where to play.

In recent years, French rugby clubs have developed themselves into real driving forces in the European game, reflected in the fact that 4 of the 8 Heineken cup qualifiers ply their trade in the French Top 14 Championship. These powerhouses of club rugby boast squads jam-packed with internationals and produce some truly thrilling rugby. However, this doesn’t come cheap. The wage bills of Welsh regions compared with their French counterparts are miniscule and in reality, if a French club wants a player, they’ll get that player. It’s a reality that rugby fans have to deal with that careers are short and players can’t make the fortune that footballers can make in the same time. The Ospreys have had their wicked way with every player they wanted from within Wales, but now, players are being attracted elsewhere to gain more money and experience rugby outside of the goldfish bowl that is South Wales a la Andy Powell, Gavin Henson, Nicky Robinson and Stephen Jones.

For those that will argue “well look what it did for Stephen Jones’ career”, here’s a short summary of why you are wrong. Stephen Jones went to France and developed his skills tenfold. James Hook is the most skilful ball-player in Wales and his skills will remain at the level they are regardless of where in the world he plays rugby. Stephen Jones came back galvanised and had added a running game and unnerved kicking to is armory, both of which James Hook has in abundance. The thing that James Hook needs is regular rugby at outside-half to develop him as an outside-half (ground-breaking stuff isn’t it?) again regardless of where in the world he does it.

Fundamentally, the move will do him a world of good as a stand-off, for the simple reason that that is the position he will be selected. From an Ospreys point of view, it’s a dark day, but for all other Welshmen, it’s a great day. Why? Because finally, the likes of Barry John, Phil Bennett and Jonathan Davies have a chance of being joined by another great Welsh fly-half as opposed to a great Welsh utility back.