How Warren Gatland's English-based players fared this weekend as star found in unusual position
Warren Gatland didn't see fit to release any players to Wales' four professional clubs this weekend, but more than a handful of his Six Nations squad members were in action across the Severn Bridge.
Kingsholm was the place to be this weekend for the Wales coaching team with five players involved in Gloucester's 38-31 victory over Leicester Tigers. The Wales management will have had their fingers firmly crossed that every player came through unscathed.
Here is how every Wales squad member fared in the Gallagher Premiership this weekend.
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Dafydd Jenkins
The 22-year-old captained Exeter Chiefs to a hard-fought 31-22 victory over Saracens at Sandy Park. Jenkins only played 50 minutes but he was hugely influential throughout his time on the field.
The powerful second-row got stuck in, making 10 tackles and doing the unseen dirty work which allows others to shine. Led from the front and will undoubtedly be a key player for Wales throughout the Six Nations.
Tommy Reffell
The Wales openside played the full 80 minutes as Leicester Tigers slipped to a 38-31 defeat to Gloucester at Kingsholm. But Reffell was one of the Tigers' better players, ending the game as top tackler with 13, while his work rate throughout was top notch.
The 25-year-old faces an uphill task to start for Wales given his great rival for the number seven shirt Jac Morgan is captain but could provide an impact from the bench.
Nicky Smith
The Wales loosehead got a good 70 minutes under his belt in Leicester's narrow defeat at Kingsholm. It goes without saying Smith scrummaged very well, while he also put in nine tackles and six carries in an all-action performance.
The 31-year-old will put serious pressure on his former Ospreys team-mate Gareth Thomas for the starting loosehead berth over the next couple of months.
Freddie Thomas
The 23-year-old has played a big part in Gloucester's revival in recent weeks, helping the Cherry & Whites to third in the Gallagher Premiership table, just six points off leaders Bath. Thomas was outstanding yet again against Leicester, putting in nine tackles and six carries.
The second-row was Gloucester's main source of lineout ball, while his distribution was excellent. Thomas suits Gloucester's style of rugby and the challenge for him will be to adapt to the tighter, more rigid demands of international rugby.
Josh Hathaway
The Wales wing was a second-half replacement for Gloucester on Saturday as he got 22 minutes under his belt. Hathaway showed glimpses of what he is capable of with ball in hand, while he appeared to be solid enough defensively.
Tomos Williams
The 30-year-old put in another terrific performance for Gloucester on Saturday and was instrumental in the victory over Leicester. Williams was a constant threat with ball in hand as he terrorised the Tigers' defence around the base of the ruck and scrum.
The lively scrum-half also managed the game well in tandem with his old mate Gareth Anscombe, while he touched down for a try after a pass from his fellow Welshman Max Llewellyn put him under the sticks.
Nick Tompkins
There's a first time for everything as Wales centre Nick Tompkins found himself in the unusual position of blindside flanker for the final 12 minutes of Saracens' disappointing 31-22 defeat to Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park.
Saracens have an injury crisis in the backrow and it was very much a case of needs must as far as Tompkins was concerned.
It will be interesting to see how Wales use Tompkins over the next couple of months considering he didn't figure at all during the Autumn Nations Series.
WillGriff John
The 23-year-old tighthead only lasted 26 minutes of Sale's Gallagher Premiership clash with Bath after he was forced off the field for a HIA which he subsequently failed. During his time on the pitch the former Scarlets prop was part of a powerful Sale scrum which forced Bath to concede two penalties in this area.
With the game being played on the Sunday, it was always going to be unlikely that John would figure against France given the five- day turnaround. If he was based in Wales he wouldn't have had to play this weekend and would have been available for all training sessions.
This is why the Wales need a cap law.
Will Rowlands
Given he plies his trade in France Rowlands would have been available to represent Racing 92 this weekend but was not selected. Racing slipped to a disappointing 27-20 home defeat to Castres in Paris but Rowlands was nowhere to be seen.
Rowlands was not at his best for Wales in the autumn but Gatland will need him to reach peak form over the next couple of months. At his best the 33-year-old is a powerful carrier capable of making headway in the tight which is something Wales have lacked in recent times.
