New faces emerging as serious contenders for Wales' Six Nations squad named in days
Warren Gatland will name his Wales squad for the Six Nations on Monday, meaning this upcoming weekend of European rugby is crucial for those who are targeting a place.
Gatland and his assistant coaches will no doubt already have the majority of the squad pencilled in but there are at least a handful of places still up for grabs. The Wales coaches will attend the Scarlets' Challenge Cup clash with Gloucester at Kingsholm on Friday night and will be present throughout the weekend.
Here are five new faces who are emerging as serious contenders for the squad with just days to go.
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Ellis Mee
When the Scarlets announced the signing of the Welsh-qualified Mee from Nottingham, it's safe to say it went under the radar but the 21-year-old has been an excellent acquisition by the west Walians. Mee, who can cover the back-three, is a dangerous broken field runner.
His recent try against the Ospreys, where he hit a good support line before showing his pace to finish was impressive, while he is a constant threat with ball in hand. Take a look across all four of Wales' professional sides - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - and you'll see plenty of wingers with top-end gas but not necessarily the rugby IQ or the defence needed to excel in the international arena.
Mee's decision making under pressure has been good so far in his Scarlets career but what will interest Gatland is his aerial ability. His 6ft 4in frame helps but he has been very effective in putting pressure on the opposition jumper in the air, while he often wins possession.
Ask any international coach and they will identify the aerial battle, especially in the middle third, as a key factor in winning Test matches. Of course, Mee is very early in his professional career and Test rugby would be a huge step up but a strong performance against Gloucester at Kingsholm tomorrow night may well force Gatland's hand.
Reuben Morgan-Williams
The 26-year-old scrum-half has been playing well for a few seasons but has taken his game up a few notches in recent weeks. Morgan-Williams has always done the basics well but he is now far more of an attacking threat than in previous seasons.
In the Ospreys' 13-13 draw with Cardiff on New Year's Day, Morgan-Williams outplayed his opposite number and recent Wales squad member Ellis Bevan. Ospreys head coach Mark Jones certainly believes Morgan-Williams has what it takes to make the step up to international level.
"Reuben was very, very, very good for us last season in all competitions," said Jones. "His durability considering he's probably played more of a supporting role with the likes of Rhys Webb around the environment in the past.
"Sometimes the challenge for a player who is supporting the majority of the time is actually being given the opportunity to lead. They don't always grasp it but he's done an incredible job of grasping that.
"He's been awesome since I've been at the club and he's done a really good job. I wouldn't at all be surprised if he was named in the squad."
Dan Edwards
There is a lot of fuss surrounding Leinster and Ireland playmaker Sam Prendergast and rightly so but at U20s level Ospreys playmaker Dan Edwards was just as good. The main difference is Prendergast plays in one of the most successful and well-resourced sides in European rugby, while Edwards doesn't have the same luxury.
But the salient points are these; Edwards has the potential to develop into an international outside-half of the highest quality. The 21-year-old is a triple-threat player who is a danger with ball in hand, has a good kicking game and the vision to put others into space.
In the modern game the art of the drop goal is not as prominent as it once was but Edwards is one of the best in the business in this aspect of the sport. Edwards is a very confident player who does not let mistakes bog him down.
He is touch and go to make Monday's squad but if he does miss out it is only a matter of time before he represents Wales at senior level.
Olly Cracknell
The 30-year-old is a player who Ospreys fans will be familiar with, having played for the Swansea-based club for seven seasons before moving across the Severn Bridge. Cracknell was born in Leeds but qualifies for Wales courtesy of his grandfather who hails from Llanelli.
He was also included in the Wales squad for the 2017 Six Nations but didn't take to the field. But after leaving Wales for London Irish and then Leicester Tigers, Cracknell was hit peak form.
In the words of England World Cup winner and top TNT Sports pundit Ben Kay, Cracknell has been a "revelation" this season. He can cover the backrow but has been packing down at No 8 of late with his powerful carrying, destructive defence and raw physicality a key part of the Tigers' pack.
His Leicester head coach Michael Cheika is supremely confident Cracknell can make his mark on the international stage. "He’s probably one of the best back-rowers in England right now," said Cheika. "He might not have the flash and the glitter but he’s doing the job, for sure.
“I don’t think he’s got the ‘potential’ [for Test rugby] – he’s there. If they played him at that level then he would definitely perform, because he’s got the mentality and the temperament.”
The Wales coaches have been in touch with him so he is clearly a contender for the squad, but Cracknell's problem is he plays in a position where there is a lot of depth.
Zack Wimbush
At 6ft 6in and 118kg, Wimbush has the size to make his mark on the international game. Centre is one position where Wales have struggled since the Rugby World Cup.
Wimbush is an explosive ball carrier who made the second highest metres post-contact in all four major domestic competitions in world rugby - United Rugby Championship, Gallagher Premiership, Top 14 and Super Rugby Pacific - while his distribution skills are also very good. The 21-year-old qualifies for both Wales and England but would potentially add some real size and power to Gatland's back line.
Wales have a lot of talent in midfield with the likes of Joe Roberts, Max Llewellyn, Eddie James and Ben Thomas, among others, but have not found the right combination since the World Cup. They have lacked penetration in this area and that is one thing Wimbush could potentially offer.
But there are many within the game who insists the Exeter Chiefs man is better suited to the wing where he can use his size, power, top-end speed and aerial prowess to greater effect.
