Jamie Roberts believes Rhys Priestland has put a question mark over Wales’ fly-half selection for the game with South Africa after an eye-catching performance against New Zealand.
The Cardiff player stood out after coming on as a 47th-minute replacement for Gareth Anscombe in the 54-16 defeat for Wayne Pivac’s side on Saturday.
Winning his 51st cap, Priestland set up a try for Johnny Williams, passed nicely and kicked smartly out of hand.
It leaves Pivac with a big call at No. 10 to face the Springboks, with Dan Biggar becoming available after missing the out-of-window autumn series opener and Anscombe also in the frame.
Speaking on Amazon Prime Video, Roberts said of Priestland: "He’s just a comfortable player, a very clever and experienced player.
"Let’s not forget he’s a 50-cap international.
"He’s a top guy and he’s going well domestically with Cardiff and deserves his call-up.
"He’s really put a question mark over the No. 10 jersey selection for next week."
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Fellow Amazon Prime pundit Sam Warburton agreed that the seasoned campaigner from Carmarthen had given Pivac a decision to make for Saturday's Tests with the Springboks.
"Rhys Priestland coming off the bench did really well," Warburton said.
"It was good to see him coming on.
"([He's] really put pressure on the No. 10 selection for next week."
As expected, Wales couldn’t live with New Zealand once the visitors started sending on replacements who were able to significantly up the tempo.
What chances the hosts had in the opening half were thrown away by slipshod line-out work and there was also a scrum where an opportunity was lost.
By contrast, New Zealand were clinical as they took the game away from Wales with four tries in the final quarter, including three in just seven minutes.
But there were some pluses for the hosts.
The back row went well, with Taine Basham showing he could operate at the highest level. He missed a few tackles but showed an appetite for battle, achieved turnovers and will have learned a huge amount.
Aaron Wainwright, too, emerged in credit.
And at full-back Johnny McNicholl, though he made a couple of mistakes, played with verve.
Warburton said: "I really liked the look of the Wales back row before Ross Moriarty got injured.
"I thought Wainwright did well and Taine Basham had a great game at No. 7."
Warburton also name-checked Rhys Carre.
For Tom Shanklin, Wales’ full-back caught the eye, notwithstanding that he threw out the late ball which Beauden Barrett snaffled before completing his brace of tries. McNicholl hadn't played Test rugby for close on a year but he wasn't in any way fazed by the occasion and was Wales' best attacker.
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"Johnny McNicholl showed well in attack," Shanklin said.
"Forget about that intercept with Beauden Barrett.
"He [McNicholl] was a livewire. He was one who looked like he was going to make line-breaks.
"Wales were slightly sloppy in attack and didn’t really get that going. Their phase-play attacks saw a lot of one-up runners. New Zealand can do all the flash stuff but they can do all the grunt as well.
"I don’t think Wales can be too disappointed.
"Yes, it was a big score but they were beaten by a quality team."
Pivac has plenty of significant calls, then, as he looks to put Wales back on track this autumn. There are injury concerns over Moriarty and Alun Wyn Jones, but Thomas Young will be available and Wales will hope for positive news on Ellis Jenkins and Taulupe Faletau, both of whom have been carrying bumps.
In the back three, Lions Liam Williams and Louis Rees-Zammit will come back into contention, too.
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