Wales team: Winners and losers as ‘cruel’ injury ends star’s season, the ‘casualty’ of Warren Gatland’s tinkering
Our winners and losers from the Wales' squad.
Following the announcement of Warren Gatland’s Wales team to tackle Australia in the second Test match, we pick out our winners and losers.
Gatland’s charges are in Melbourne this week, and they are looking to bounce back from their 25-16 defeat against Australia last time out.
It’s been a challenging year for Wales, who have yet to register a Test win. They lost all five of their Six Nations matches, once to the Springboks and Wallabies, and are now on an eight-game losing streak, which includes their Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat to Argentina.
The losing streak has seen them drop to their lowest-ever world ranking, falling out of the top 10 for the very first time and equal their worst run of results in over a decade.
Still, their performance against the Wallabies was much improved from those they produced during the Six Nations and they will be out to end their season on a high before a far friendlier clash against the Queensland Reds.
Without further ado, here are our winners and losers from Gatland’s selection.
Winners
Cameron Winnett
After starting all six of Wales’ Test matches this year, Cameron Winnett was surprisingly dropped from the matchday squad for the opening game of this series.
He made way in the back three for Josh Hathaway, who was unable to debut against the Springboks because of World Rugby Regulation 9, but made his first start against Australia.
However, Winnett is now back in the side following Hathaway’s injury with Liam Williams shifting to the wing.
Gatland’s decision to start Hathaway was bold, and while the young winger impressed, Winnett certainly didn’t deserve to be dropped and will be eager to prove that again this weekend.
Ellis Bevan
24-year-old Ellis Bevan earns his third Test cap and his third successive start, and frankly, it’s been well-deserved. He was a rather surprising debutant against the Springboks at Twickenham, and despite the towering presence of Eben Etzebeth tearing down on him with every box kick, he still managed a tidy enough shift.
Last weekend, he also put in a sharp performance alongside fly-half Ben Thomas, and he looks to be quickly making the starting scrum-half role his own.
Ben Thomas
It’s back-to-back Test starts for Thomas at fly-half as the Cardiff centre looks to back up a rather solid performance in Test 2.
Honestly, he is slightly lucky to be retaining his role, as the Welsh attack looked more direct and threatening when Sam Costelow took over in the second half, but Thomas clearly did enough to convince Gatland that he should get another shot – and fair enough.
On the whole, he did kick well out of hand and off the tee in Test 1, and cohesion could well be the way forward for Wales to finally clinch a win.
James Botham
With Aaron Wainwright sidelined, there was always going to be a change in the starting XV, and James Botham has been the beneficiary of slotting onto the blindside.
Wainwright’s injury is a massive blow as he has been far and away their best player this year, but Botham has been excellent for Cardiff this season, and his inclusion creates a really interesting breakdown battle this week.
Archie Griffin
The 22-year-old put in a mighty shift last time out, making an impressive 26 tackles in a 75-minute performance.
Archie Griffin did have his struggles at scrum-time but that has been an ongoing issue all year for the Welsh and the rookie is making a strong strides in his game.
A lot will be learnt from going toe-to-toe with James Slipper this weekend.
Losers
Aaron Wainwright
A gutting injury for Wales and Wainwright as the all-court excellent loose forward will not only miss the second Test match but is set for a four-month spell on the sidelines.
It’s a cruel blow for a man who has been in incredible form this year.
Josh Hathaway
Hathaway enjoyed an excellent season for Gloucester despite the club’s struggles and deservedly earned a first Test call-up and subsequent debut.
While he had the odd error or two during his first cap, there were some promising signs, and it would have been good to see him build confidence on the big stage. Alas, an elbow injury has denied him that opportunity.
Sam Costelow
Wales’ attack has been highly criticised this year, but when Costelow came off the bench last week, it looked far more aggressive and effective.
The 23-year-old was the nailed-on starter earlier this year, but Gatland is clearly assessing his options, and Costelow is a casualty.
Still, he manages to crack the matchday 23 and will be eager to make another good impression from the bench.
READ MORE: Wales lose star man to injury as Warren Gatland brings back excellent rookie for Wallabies Test
