Today's rugby news as axed Wales coach 'had gun pointed at him' and Gatland makes announcement
Here are the latest rugby headlines on Wednesday, January 29.
Wales expected to bring back experience
Warren Gatland is expected to opt for experience in his backline when he names the Wales side to face France today.
Gatland will reveal the matchday 23 before lunchtime, with Nick Tompkins and Owen Watkin being tipped to line up in midfield. Watkin has 42 caps, while Tompkins has 38. In contrast, Scarlets duo Joe Roberts and Eddie James, the other centre options in the squad, have two and three respectively.
READ MORE: Wales set to make surprise front row selection against France
READ MORE: Wales vs France team announcement LIVE as Warren Gatland reveals first Six Nations side
They will probably line up outside Ben Thomas, who played 10 for Wales out in Australia during the summer. Elsewhere, the likes of Josh Adams, Liam Williams and Taulupe Faletau are expected to return. You can read more on the likely team here.
You can follow the Wales team announcement live here.
Axed Wales coach 'had gun pointed at him' - Goode
Former England international Andy Goode says he was shocked by Alex King's removal as Wales' attack coach so close to the Six Nations.
King lost his job with the national team last week, and Goode believes he was the victim of Warren Gatland's need to change something after a run of 12 successive defeats. He believes his friend King is the fall guy, with Gatland "pointing the gun" at him as he comes under huge pressure to turn things around.
While King has departed, Wales legend Adam Jones has been brought in as a scrum coach.
Speaking on The Rugby Pod, Goode gave his opinion, saying: "Well, I'm mates with Kingy so I've got to be careful what I say but also I'll be honest.
"So like, the gun's been pointed at Warren Gatland, right? In terms of everyone saying 'Gats got has to go, we need change, we need this, need that.' And every head coach does the same thing.
"When the gun's pointing at you or when people are saying something he's doing, you just move that gun slightly to someone in the periphery and boom, they're gone.
"Kingy is probably last in first out, right? And I was a bit shocked by it. So I messaged Kingy and I was like - 'Hey mate, so sorry to hear the news'
"And Kingy won't mind me saying this. He came back and said - 'Mate, I appreciate it. You know, tough times. It is what it is.'
"And I'm like, yeah, but what the f***? And then I've had no response, so!
"Well, he can't say anything because he probably knows... I won't say it on here, but I feel desperately sorry for Kingy because ultimately the way it's been done a week before the Six Nations, it's kind of slipped under the radar.
"'Oh, we just, you know, had a reshuffle and Alex King's left or Alex King won't be part of the coaching setup.'
"Sport's ruthless, right? And Gats has obviously realised something's got to change. So the easiest thing for him to do is look around and get rid of Kingy.
"Ultimately, if Wales win the wooden spoon again and don't win a game, I'd say Gats, you're gone as well."
Biggar predicts Wales' breakthrough star for Six Nations
Dan Biggar has tipped Eddie James to be Wales' breakthrough star in this year's Six Nations.
The Scarlets centre made his debut for Warren Gatland's side last summer and the 22-year-old is being backed to have a good international career.
Now Biggar has picked the Carmarthen-born midfielder as one to watch this tournament, likening him to a Wales legend in playing style.
In his Daily Mail column, Biggar wrote of his pick: "Wales have been struggling to win the gain-line and he can operate a bit like Jamie Roberts."
Overall, Biggar believes, like most other pundits, that Wales will be facing off against Italy for the Wooden Spoon but thinks the men in red with will finish fifth.
"It's a really bleak picture for Welsh rugby and I hope that can change with a win or two in the Six Nations. Warren Gatland is under heaps of pressure and I can't see how he survives unless they end the run of defeats," he added.
"I think the game plan needs a bit of a shake-up. Wales don't have the size and power to compete physically with the best teams in the Six Nations, so I'd like to see them move the ball a bit more and go less direct."
Dropped Wales star up for award
Dropped Wales centre Max Llewellyn has been nominated for the Gallagher Premiership player of the month award for January.
The Gloucester man has been one of the best players in the league over recent weeks and is currently the second top try scorer in the competition amid a terrific season. After starting all three of Wales' autumn internationals, his omission from the Six Nations squad came as a shock to many, including former national captain Ellis Jenkins.
Explaining his decision, Gatland said: “He’s pretty unlucky in terms of that. For us, there’s a lot of quality 12s around. 13 is the one position we haven’t got depth.
“He’s been spoken to in terms of that (improving). For him, there’s probably an opportunity to get more touches and get his hands on the ball.
“He didn’t have any touches against South Africa. He’s got to continue doing what he’s doing. There was a long discussion about midfield and getting experience in there. We are trying to get a real balance in the team.”
Llewellyn is up against club team-mate Santi Carreras and Harlequins duo James Chisholm Jack Kenningham for the Premiership award.
