The Wales Six Nations squad Warren Gatland is likely to pick in two weeks' time
With a miserable 2024 set to end, Warren Gatland will be hoping Wales fare better in the Six Nations.
Wales begin the Championship with a difficult task against France in Paris, while most pundits have their second-round clash in Rome down as a Wooden Spoon decider against Italy. Gatland will hope the return of a handful of experienced players will result in Wales putting an end to a wretched run of 12 consecutive Test match defeats.
Rugby correspondent Steffan Thomas takes a look at the squad Gatland is likely to pick over the next couple of weeks.
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Back-three
Wales should have a little more cutting edge in this area with the return of Josh Adams who missed both the summer and the autumn campaigns through injury. He played a big part during last year's Six Nations but was well below par due to a chronic knee injury.
But after a long rest on the sidelines Adams has come back with a bang and looks every bit the deadly finisher he was a few years ago. At his best the 59-times-capped wing is one of the best finishers in Europe while his work rate, ability under the high ball and defensive solidity are also big plus points.
Gatland will also have Liam Williams back after the 33-year-old missed Wales' miserable autumn campaign through injury. Williams' move to Saracens from Japanese outfit Kubota Spears means he is available for the Six Nations and Gatland will welcome his experience.
It would be a shock if Cameron Winnett and Rio Dyer did not retain their places, while Tom Rogers is in credit due to his excellent individual performance in Wales' heavy defeat to Australia in November. Gloucester's Josh Hathaway and the Scarlets' Blair Murray also figured in the autumn, while Bristol's Jack Bates is also playing well.
But if there is going to be a shock inclusion it might be Exeter's Zack Wimbush. The 21-year-old was born in Hong Kong but qualifies for both England and Wales.
At 6ft 6in and 118kg the youngster, who can play both centre and wing, has the size to make his mark on the international game. 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 top notch.
Of course, there are no guarantees Wimbush wants to play for Wales but it would come as a big boost if Gatland succeeds in persuading him to wear red not white at Test level. Former rugby league superstar Regan Grace has also recovered from a hamstring injury and impressed the Wales coaches in Australia last summer but has struggled for game-time with Bath.
Mason Grady would be a shoo-in if fit but has not figured for Cardiff since undergoing ankle surgery following Wales' defeat to Fiji in the autumn. Young Dragons full-back Huw Anderson also trained with Wales during the autumn and scored a sensational solo try in his club's victory over Newcastle Falcons in the Challenge Cup last month, so he is not to be discounted.
Back-three: Liam Williams, Cameron Winnett, Josh Adams, Rio Dyer, Tom Rogers, Zack Wimbush, Blair Murray.
Centres
Wales have talent in midfield, of that there is not doubt, but finding the right combination is something Gatland has struggled with since the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Mason Grady and Owen Watkin were given a run of games over the summer while Ben Thomas and Max Llewellyn were in situ over the autumn.
The truth is both centre partnership showed glimpses of what they could be capable of given time but neither fully convinced. But with regards Gatland's Six Nations squad it would be a shock if Cardiff utility back Thomas and Gloucester powerhouse Llewellyn were not included.
The coaches also like the solidity and low error rate of Watkin. The 28-year-old isn't the flashiest centre in the world but looked very powerful in the Ospreys' festive derby victory over the Scarlets.
Talking of the Scarlets they will likely have two centres in the squad in the form of the powerful Eddie James and Joe Roberts who has only recently returned after nine months on the sidelines with a knee injury. Wales like Roberts because he brings something a little bit different to the other centre options with his explosive outside break and his left-footed kicking game.
He has looked rusty since returning from injury but Gatland has a lot of time for the 24-year-old. Nick Tompkins saw no game-time during the autumn but the Saracens man is a good insurance policy if things go awry and is a good influence on the squad.
With regards any potential bolters, Bristol Bears centre Joe Jenkins is somebody who is being monitored while Bath centre Louie Hennessey, who is on loan at Cardiff, is a long-term prospect. Scarlets centre Macs Page also trained with Wales in the autumn so is very much on the radar but has not figured at club level over the festive period.
Many supporters will complain at the omission of Scarlets centre Johnny Williams and Ospreys man Keiran Williams but neither player have been included in recent squads despite playing well.
Centres: Eddie James, Owen Watkin, Joe Roberts, Ben Thomas, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas
Outside-half
Much of the reason behind Wales' winless 2024 has been a lack of control and game management at half-back. With that in mind Gareth Anscombe will surely retain his place in the squad and even if he is not quite the player he was a few years back his experience will prove invaluable to younger players in the squad.
Of course, Ben Thomas is also an option at outside-half, although Gatland did select the Cardiff man in his regular position of inside centre over the autumn. Sam Costelow has come in for a lot of unfair criticism from supporters who perhaps don't understand the intricacies of a fly-half's game.
The Scarlets playmaker is very much a work in progress but he offers threat with ball in hand and has a good kicking game, with his cross-field kicks developing into an attacking weapon. An outside-half is often only as good as the pack in front of him and when the forwards take a hiding it is still the number 10 who unfairly cops the flak in Wales.
Those within the game insist Costelow's biggest challenge is his confidence but remain steadfast in their belief that he will develop into a quality international number 10. Outside-half is not a position of strength in Wales at the moment but Costelow deserves time and patience.
Arguably the form outside-half in Wales is the Ospreys' Dan Edwards who has been in excellent form over the past year or so. Edwards would have trained with Wales in the autumn if he hadn't picked up a concussion and has a very high ceiling.
It seems a matter of when not if Edwards plays Test rugby. The other options are Cardiff's Callum Sheedy and the Scarlets' Ioan Lloyd but it would be a surprise if Gatland goes down that road.
But should he sign for a Welsh club before the start of the Six Nations Exeter's Joe Hawkins is a contender for selection.
Outside-halves: Sam Costelow, Ben Thomas (utility), Gareth Anscombe, Joe Hawkins (if he signs for a Welsh club)
Scrum-half
Wales will be desperate to see Tomos Williams fully fit and firing for the Six Nations. The 30-year-old is one of the most dangerous attacking number nines in the northern hemisphere and is a strong contender to tour with the British & Irish Lions next summer.
But behind Williams there is a real drop off in experience. Apart from Gareth Davies, who has now retired from Test rugby, the form number nine in the regional game is the Dragons' Rhodri Williams.
The 31-year-old is an experienced campaigner who was excellent against Cardiff on Boxing Day and given he was involved during the autumn it would be a surprise if he were not included for the Six Nations. Wales have also invested in Cardiff's Ellis Bevan and expect Gatland to keep faith in the 24-year-old.
Other potential options are Ospreys pair Kieran Hardy and Reuben Morgan-Williams. Young Dragons scrum-half Morgan Lloyd and the Scarlets' Archie Hughes are an an outside bet for selection.
Scrum-halves: Tomos Williams, Rhodri Williams, Ellis Bevan
Front-row
Unfortunately, Wales' captain for the autumn Dewi Lake is set to miss the majority of the Six Nations, if not all of it, after undergoing surgery on his bicep. This is a hammer blow for Wales because Lake is one of the only front five forwards they have got who can physically dominate the likes of France up-front.
Gatland will also be sweating over the fitness of Ryan Elias who has missed the Christmas derbies with a neck injury and is expected to return for one of the Scarlets' Challenge Cup fixtures against Gloucester or Vannes, respectively. But Gatland will glad to see the experienced Elliot Dee return to action for the Dragons after recovering from an ankle injury which kept the 51-cap international out of Wales' summer and autumn Tests.
Dee's Dragons colleague Brodie Coghlan is making a convincing case for selection but given Gatland has already invested a lot of time into the development of Evan Lloyd it would be a surprise if the Cardiff hooker was left out. With regards props, Gareth Thomas and Nicky Smith are pretty much nailed on for selection on the loosehead.
It is then a straight shootout between Cardiff's Corey Domachowski and the Scarlets' Kemsley Mathias for the third spot. Tighthead is a big issue for Wales with Archie Griffin likely to miss at least a large chunk of the Six Nations with a shoulder injury.
Keiron Assiratti and Henry Thomas were the other two tightheads during the autumn, while the experienced Dillon Lewis could be set for a recall.
Front-row: Gareth Thomas, Nicky Smith, Kemsley Mathias, Dillon Lewis, Keiron Assiratti, Henry Thomas, Elliot Dee, Evan Lloyd, Ryan Elias.
Second-rows
Wales will be boosted by the return of Exeter Chiefs lock Dafydd Jenkins who missed the autumn campaign due to injury. Jenkins' return is timely given Adam Beard is set to miss the start of the Six Nations with a knee injury.
He was below par during the autumn but the experience of Racing 92 lock Will Rowlands will likely be called upon while Freddie Thomas should also be included off the back of his outstanding form for Gloucester. With Ben Carter absent with a knee injury Cardiff's Teddy Thomas is also a contender but the Ospreys' James Fender will fancy his chances of making this squad.
The form of Christ Tshiunza might worry Gatland a little given he has not figured for a struggling Exeter Chiefs side of late. But Tshiunza is somebody Wales have invested in while his versatility alone will likely see him make the squad.
The Ospreys' Rhys Davies has also made a timely return from injury and has been in previous squads.
Second-rows: Freddie Thomas, Adam Beard (if fit), Dafydd Jenkins, Will Rowlands, James Fender, Christ Tshiunza
Back-row
On paper the backrow Wales could field for their Paris opener is very competitive. Aaron Wainwright, Jac Morgan and Taulupe Faletau was the loose forward trio fielded during the pool stage of the World Cup.
The only question mark surrounds the age and fitness of Faletau who at 34 is at the tailend of his career but nevertheless he will be included. Ospreys openside Morgan is also the front-runner to be named captain given Lake is sidelined with a bicep injury.
The versatility of Tshiunza and the Scarlets' Taine Plumtree should see both make the squad. Leicester's Tommy Reffell will also get included, and James Botham has to be the favourite to see off the challenge of both Taine Basham and Josh Macleod to retain his place in the squad.
Interestingly Gatland has also previously spoken of Freddie Thomas potentially moving to six, so the Gloucester lock may also be an option. Wales could also do worse than consider Leicester Tigers backrower Olly Cracknell was has been consistently excellent in the Gallagher Premiership.
Back-row: Taulupe Faletau, Jac Morgan (captain), James Botham, Taine Plumtree, Aaron Wainwright
