The new faces playing their way into Warren Gatland's Six Nations thoughts
Following the World Cup, Warren Gatland admitted that this was the right time to go through a little pain when it came to blooding new players at Test level.
Six Nations. But with a decent core of players left from the World Cup, it’s hardly going to be a bunch of kids thrown together - like it is for the four professional clubs.
There will be some positions where the progression of young talent will be forced. Others will see little change.
At full-back, for example, Gatland will likely use Louis Rees-Zammit or Josh Adams in the short term, but at least a squad place will be dedicated to developing a longer-term option.
That might be Cai Evans, who Gatland has already identified as one possibility - having named him in the wider World Cup training squad.
Hardly a new face then, given he was capped a matter of months ago, but he seems the likeliest bet. There’s other fresh faces a little further back in that position. Cameron Winnett has looked impressive in Cardiff’s 15 jersey so far this season. He’s undoubtedly got something to offer in attack, but it’s his bravery on the other side of the ball that has captured the eyes of coaches and team-mates in recent weeks.
His club have asked that question and are currently awaiting clarity as to whether his time at Swansea University counts towards his residency period. Regardless of the answer, he's another who seems worthy of a look at some point.
But, having only just found his feet at professional level after a tricky season last year, is it a little too soon for Nagy - qualified or not? The same goes for Winnett.
Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt spoke about the fact that even though his young players are having a lot more exposure to the professional game right now, they won't feel the benefits of being experienced until a year or two down the line. Winnett, as good as he's been, needs that time to settle in at club level before another step up.
Even with the full-back shortage, it's probably better for these young players to stay out of Wales camp rather than be called into it in the short term.
In England, another who might be a little too far from a call-up is Immanuel Feyi-Waboso - well, certainly in his own words. Just last week, the Exeter wing said he felt there was a lot of his game he still needed to work on.
Despite that, there were reports that he was Gatland's radar for the Six Nations. A third try of the season last Saturday - minutes before departing injured - wouldn't have harmed his cause.
Elsewhere in the backline, there's probably not a new face that is likely to come in at this stage. Fly-half is a problem position of sorts, but all the contenders - unless Gatland goes left-field with someone, having namechecked Will Reed after the Barbarians game - have some experience at Test level, however fleeting that may be.
There's no other real problem position. Scrum-half is relatively safe, as is midfield. Although, again not a new face after 21 minutes of Test rugby this summer, but if Gatland can find a place for Keiran Williams, he should.
Maybe he's sold shares in the Ospreys centre after he conceded a holding penalty for getting disconnected to his ruck support from a kick-off at Twickenham before the World Cup. Gatland referenced that particular incident, while he also admitted the loss to England as a whole answered questions about some.
But, given how different the Ospreys look when he's wearing the 12 jersey, then he surely has to be worth a look. Surely?
Having been present at Rodney Parade when Williams wasn't in the Ospreys backline that looked toothless against the Dragons, maybe Gatland might be willing to give him another shot.
In the pack, his team-mate Morgan Morris is another who continues to put in big performances. The rampaging No. 8 has been one of Wales' most consistent performers in recent campaigns - even winning the Welsh Rugby Writer's Young Player of the Year last season.
Yet, Gatland doesn't seem interested in the 25-year-old. Toby Booth confirmed on the weekend that there's been no contact or feedback from the Wales coach over his constant omissions.
Is size a factor? Maybe, but any Test player would tell you it's power, not size, that really counts in the professional game. If Gatland feels Morris couldn't live with the speed of the Test game, then fair enough - but Morris performed in Europe with enough aplomb to at least get his foot in the door.
Maybe Gatland wants a project of his own. Carwyn Tuipulotu is nowhere near as consistent as a performer as Morris, while he's at a different stage of his development. But, he's been name-checked by the Wales coach as one for the future.
It wouldn't shock you if Gatland felt like shaping a rawer product into a Test player. It's something he's done in the past, even if he's hinted at trying to get away from it in his second spell in charge.
When he made that comment, he was talking about Cardiff prop Will Davies-King. The tight-head prop is another raw one, but the materials are there.
The 25-year-old was part of the World Cup training squad, but pulled out injured in June before having a chance to win a cap or even stake a claim for France. Gatland will like his size, even if there's much to learn, but he's currently second fiddle at the Arms Park behind another Welsh-qualified prop.
Rhys Litterick has enjoyed a strong start to life in the Welsh capital, having joined from Harlequins in the summer. Gatland may well see more upside in Davies-King, but it's Litterick who has been the cornerstone of Cardiff's scrum so far this year.
That might just give him a nudge if Gatland does fancy looking at tight-head options, given all three of his World Cup props are plying their trade outside of Wales.
