The good news for Warren Gatland was that the naming of his Six Nations squad was not as frantic or hectic as last year’s reveal. Then, as you may recall, the Wales head coach appeared before the press, still dusting off debris after a bomb had landed, news of the gunshot Louis Rees-Zammit for the NFL reaching Gatland just minutes before releasing a selection in which the winger was to be included.
It was a moment that set the tone for a disastrous and damaging year for Welsh rugby, marked by failure from top to bottom. When it comes to governance and performance, Wales has stood out from the rest – unsurprising given the current mess across the Severn. A run of 12 Test defeats did not lead to Gatland’s dismissal, perhaps partly because of the scale of the problems elsewhere – a fresh coat of paint will not significantly improve a house with significant structural problems .
It would have been entirely fair for Gatland to assume that after his annus horribilisthings can only get better. Alas, it’s Welsh rugby. It may have lacked the drama and audacity of Rees-Zammit’s departure, but the news of fly-half Sam Costelow’s broken collarbone was an equally painful blow that landed shortly before the appointment of his Six Nations 2025 party. Also consider the injuries to captain and star performer Dewi Lake, lineup stalwart Adam Beard and all-rounder Mason Grady – the suffering continues.
Costelow’s injury instead shines a light on a team that seems better balanced than the Callow units named at times last year. Gatland had asked for patience with this difficult situation as he sought to turn over a new leaf, bringing in what he saw as a more promising harvest, willing to accept short-term pain in exchange for long-term gain term.
With Taulupe Faletau, Liam Williams and Josh Adams all back in a 34-man squad, the situation looks rather better. It’s not just on the field that three Test British & Irish Lions will bolster the ranks, but off it too for a team so lacking in confidence and composure during the chaos of 2024.
Yet even among returnees there is an element of confusion in Gatland’s selection. Just months after being reinstated into the team at Costelow’s expense to guide Wales into the autumn, Gareth Anscombe now finds himself completely out of the picture, even after his fellow playmaker’s misfortune. leaves options like Ben Thomas, a natural inside center who filled the flyhalf role in Australia last year, and Ospreys man Dan Edwards, who performed well in the United Rugby Championship (URC) – neither neither have made a Six Nations Tournament. appearance.
“We talked about the 10 as a position to develop some depth, looking at the short and long term,” Gatland explained of Anscombe’s omission. “[It’s about] gain some experience in the position.
“He is 33 now and he will be 36 by the next World Cup. Will he be there? We need to develop some depth. someone like [Dan Edwards] has the possibility of asserting a claim. We were impressed with the way he controlled the matches. His kicking game has improved. This is probably the first time in a long time that we have had dilemmas around selection.”
It may make sense for Wales to continue to look to the future, but that is at odds with the return of the equally aging Faletau and Williams. Even Gatland admitted on Monday that his job could be untenable if results don’t improve; why, then, would you not want Anscombe to be a stable presence in such circumstances?
Taking his comments about a youth movement at face value, it is equally strange that Max Llewellyn and Cameron Winnett – who started the autumn outside Anscombe aged 13 and 15 respectively – are also left out despite strong national form. The injury to Lake, one of the few members of the squad currently in contention for a genuine Lions bid, has meanwhile necessitated the recall of Sam Parry, who left the Welsh squad ahead of the summer’s tour of Australia last after feeling disrespected. With a small player pool, burned bridges need to be rebuilt quickly.
At least the Welsh men currently have a head coach – unlike their women as they enter a World Cup year. News of a shake-up of Gatland’s staff appears to be on the way ahead of a trip to Paris on the opening night of the tournament. For a team lacking power and punch, France is as daunting a first task as Wales.
“We know it’s about performances and results,” said the head coach. “These first two games are really important for us. This match in Paris will be difficult, then it will be the match against Italy. Playing France first is probably not a bad thing for us. They tend to take a bit of time to get going in a Six Nations.
“It’s all about momentum. You get good results and you never know what can happen in this tournament. I’m pretty aware of the situation we find ourselves in as a coaching group. We have to go out and work hard to show improvement and perform well. »
The Welsh Six Nations team, made up of 34 players:
Advantages: Elliott Dee, Sam Parry, Evan Lloyd; Nicky Smith, Kemsley Mathias, Gareth Thomas, Keiron Assiratti, WillGriff John, Henry Thomas; Dafydd Jenkins, Will Rowlands, Freddie Thomas, Christ Tshiunza, Teddy Williams; Jac Morgan (captain), James Botham, Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell, Taulupe Faletau.
Back : Tomos Williams, Rhodri Williams, Ellis Bevan; Ben Thomas, Dan Edwards; Eddie James, Joe Roberts, Nick Tompkins, Owen Watkin; Liam Williams, Josh Adams, Josh Hathaway, Tom Rogers, Blair Murray, Ellis Mee.