Warren Gatland returns to find his players stealing headlines and getting standing ovations
There is just one week to go until Warren Gatland names his squad for the 2025 Six Nations and several England-based Welsh talents have stuck their hands up for selection.
The weekend saw a number of established Welsh internationals, forgotten faces and potential new stars in action, with Gatland given a lot to think about as he returned to the UK from spending Christmas in New Zealand.
With no Welsh regions in United Rugby Championship action, all eyes were on the English Premiership and a number of prospective candidates took the opportunity to impress the national selectors with some standout performances on show.
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With five Wales internationals in the starting line-up, there would have been plenty of interest in Gloucester's clash with Sale Sharks on Saturday, and the quintet from 'the fifth Welsh region' certainly didn't disappoint.
The Cherry & Whites emphatically ended Sale's recent league resurgence with a stunning 36-20 bonus point victory that saw Welsh centre Max Llewellyn cross for tries in either half, with an outstanding first-half team display also seeing Josh Hathaway touch down.
However, the highlight of the match arguably came from their compatriot Tomos Williams, with the in-form scrum-half picking up in the New Year where he left off in 2024 and producing a moment of magic late on. With the match entering the final five minutes, Williams received the ball on the left touchline and kicked ahead before launching a chase.
While his path to the ball was initially obscured, the Welshman showed impressive pace as he beat the onrushing defender to the ball to touch down. The score was lauded by former England international Chris Ashton, while Gloucester boss George Skivington was also effusive in his praise for Williams, who has emerged as a real hopeful for this summer's British & Irish Lions tour.
"Tomos was great again today," said Skivington. "He has delivered on and off the field. He is just full of energy and links our play up well. He is a cheeky chap. He has a laugh and all the rest of it but when it comes to training and playing, he is on it, he is not messing around any more, and his ability to flick the switch between the two is great.
"He is engaged, he wants to win, he is competitive, and his influence will rub off on the young lads here."
While Llewellyn, Hathaway and Williams claimed four of their side's five tries, new Wales cap Freddie Thomas also impressed and came off to a standing ovation after another physical display. However, there was less good news for the final member of Gloucester's Welsh quintet, with Gareth Anscombe limping off at half-time to spark concern over his Six Nations availability.
“I talked to him at half-time and he wasn’t moving particularly well, so we knocked it on the head," Skivington explained. “We could have pushed him out and kept him playing but I am not an advocate of doing that. I tend to whip lads off when I feel they are not quite 100 per cent. Hopefully, it is nothing too serious.”
Elsewhere, Olly Cracknell continued his fine form for Leicester Tigers as he crossed for a try against Exeter Chiefs in a display which his coach Michael Cheika said proved his Test credentials. The 30-year-old dual-qualified back rower - who was born in Leeds but is eligible for Wales through his grandfather - has been outstanding in recent weeks and has been tipped to feature at the Six Nations under either Gatland or Steve Borthwick.
The former RGC 1404, Cardiff RFC and Ospreys forward previously made six appearances for Wales U20s and was called up to the senior international squad in 2017, only to go unused and never called up again. But while Aaron Wainwright and Taulupe Faletau are likely to be the No.8s named in the squad in a week's time, Gatland has been encouraged to recall Cracknell with Cheika describing him as "one of the best back-rowers in England right now".
“I’ve really enjoyed coaching him,” the Tigers coach said. “He’s an intelligent guy and thinks about the game well. He’s a bloody good player, carrying well for us and being physical. He’s stoic and quiet but he’s becoming invaluable.
"He’s probably one of the best back-rowers in England right now. 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.”
Cracknell's teammate Nicky Smith - who was brought back into the Wales squad in the autumn after being overlooked in previous campaigns - also did his chances of being included next week no harm with a solid display against Exeter, proving why he is regarded as one of the best scrummaging props in the country.
Their opponents - who went down 28-15 at Welford Road - were less eye-catching, but Dafydd Jenkins had another solid outing as skipper while Wales selectors got a good look at potential Six Nations bolter Zack Wimbush who, like Cracknell, is dual-qualified.
The 21-year-old - who can play both centre and wing - was born in Hong Kong but qualifies for Wales and England. At 6ft 6in and 118kg, the youngster has the size to make his mark on the international game and has been targeted as a potential signing for Cardiff, Scarlets and the Dragons.
Up in Newcastle, Harlequins put an end to their losing run with a 38-14 bonus point victory over the Falcons, with England's Marcus Smith dominating the post-match headlines after an 18-point haul. However, the game's real moment of magic came from Welsh back Jarrod Evans, who set up Smith for his try shortly before half-time in "world class" style.
With the scores locked at 7-7, scrum-half Will Porter whipped a pass out to Luke Northmore at first receiver, who then shipped it out the back to the Welshman. While Newcastle's blitz defence was soon on top of him, Evans showed incredible vision to loop a perfectly weighted pass over four defenders and into the arms of Smith, who didn't even have to break stride as he caught the ball and ran in under the sticks.
The "unbelievably good" assist had pundits raving, while fans have demanded that Gatland includes the 28-year-old in the upcoming squad. Evans - who has nine international caps - has not played for Wales since 2021 and there was some confusion over whether he was eligible to represent them following his switch from Cardiff to Quins in 2023. However, it was confirmed last year that he was not captured by the 25-cap rule having not "received a reasonable offer to play for a side in Wales". It remains to be seen if Gatland's mind has been changed on the player.
Evans' teammates Dillon Lewis and Wyn Jones also looked solid as they made half hour cameos against Newcastle. Lewis has not featured for Wales since last year's Six Nations, having initially been left out of the squad in a surprise omission, while injury prevented him from making an appearance over the summer and he missed out on the Autumn Nations Series. Jones, meanwhile, is targeting a return to international duty after leaving Scarlets for Quins last summer, with the 32-year-old last pulling on a Welsh jersey at the 2023 Six Nations.
Over in north London, Rhys Carre continued to tear it up for Saracens, with the prop hailed as exactly what Wales are missing as he delivered another classy display against Bristol Bears. However, despite the praise being heaped upon him, he won't be seen in a Welsh jersey anytime soon as he is ineligible through the 25-cap rule - while the prop also chose to return to Sarries due to his dwindling international prospects under Gatland.
His teammate Nick Tompkins - who went unused by Gatland during the autumn internationals - also had a strong outing against the Bears as he set up a try for Fergus Burke with a neat blind pass.
While prop Archie Griffin is currently sidelined after undergoing shoulder surgery, the Bath front row would have still been of interest to Wales selectors at the weekend, with highly-rated hooker Kepu Tuipulotu coming off the bench to make his Premiership debut.
The 19-year-old made a brief cameo towards the end of his side's dramatic defeat to Northampton, but looked impressive as he nailed his only lineout and looked to have claimed a winning turnover, only for the referee to not reward him.
Tuipulotu - who is considered one of the brightest young prospects in the game - hails from Pontypool and is the son of former Dragons and Tonga centre Sione, as well as the brother of Wales Women star Sisilia. However, the former Harrow School student has been in the England pathway for the past four years and has captained them at U18s level.
While the WRU have made it a priority to convince him to represent Wales over England, a new World Rugby eligibility ruling means he could qualify for Steve Borthwick's side earlier than first thought, 'screwing' Gatland and co. in the process. You can read about that here.
