The season is well into its business end and accolades will soon be dished out aplenty.
We thought we’d get in early and list the 20 best-performing players in Wales over the last eight-and-a-half months.
Players outside the regional system, such as Liam Williams and Josh Adams, are excluded. Regional matches as well as Tests have been taken into account.
Here's our running order from 20 up to number one...
20. Owen Lane (Cardiff Blues)
He lost a big chunk of the season to a torn hamstring, but has performed brightly either side of the bump, leading many to tout him as a potential World Cup bolter.
Lane is built like a tank and can shift. Some of his tries for Cardiff Blues have been sensational. He is one to watch.
19. Rob Evans (Scarlets)
After the wise-cracking front rower attended No. 10 Downing Street as part of the St David’s Day celebrations, he claimed Theresa May wanted him as “Brexit Secretary”. Never mind battling on that front, he has had enough on his plate trying to maintain the Scarlets’ pre-eminence in Welsh rugby.
But he has made a decent fist of his work this season, scrummaging strongly for his region and working hard around the field. For Wales, too, he was never less than reliable.
Cardiff Blues set Gareth Anscombe deadline with Wales star due to make huge decision on his future
18. George North (Ospreys)
Injury niggles have hampered the wing, but the Ospreys have been pleased with the way his game has progressed since he returned from Northampton, identifying his willingness to contest at the tackle area as an example of how he has become a more rounded player.
North has also made 15 clean breaks for them in the league and beaten 30 defenders. Yes, there was that infamous misread for Wales against France, but there were two tries, as well, scores that set in place the springboard for a Grand Slam.
17. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues)
A bump wrecked his Six Nations with Wales, but he finished in credit in the opener against France, even if there were still questions over his game control.
But for Cardiff Blues he has proven a catalyst, with his sniping and ability to challenge opposition back rows. Opposition flankers with a penchant for mid-game dozing run all kinds of risks when Williams is on the pitch. He is someone who needs to be watched for the full 80.
16. Ross Moriarty (Dragons)
There will be some who think Moriarty should be higher on this list after his efforts for Wales in the Six Nations. Others will argue he has been nothing special for the Dragons.
So this feels about right. He didn’t stop grafting during the Grand Slam campaign and has to feature for his relentless work-rate and physicality.
15. Kieron Fonotia (Scarlets)
The first non-Welshman on the list. Samoan Fonotia made little discernible impact at the Ospreys, but it’s been a different tale over the Loughor Bridge.
The hard-running centre has been a hit with the Scarlets, shining in attack and setting such a strong example that he has worn the armband on occasions. He has shown why the Ospreys brought him over from New Zealand. Unfortunately for them, it’s been the Scarlets who have benefited.
14. Dan Evans (Ospreys)
The most overlooked player in regional rugby has made more carries than any other Welsh player in the Guinness PRO14 and made the most metres as well. There was a lull during the Six Nations, but Evans has bounced back quite spectacularly, with five tries in his last two outings.
His performance against the Dragons, when he claimed four of those touchdowns, was as good as anything seen by a Welsh player at regional level this season.
Will the Wales selectors have a dramatic change of mind for the World Cup? Sadly for Evans, it’s unlikely.
Welsh Varsity 2019: The best pictures as thousands of students turn out for annual grudge contest
13. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons)
It’s been a big year for the powerful Dragons back rower.
For Wales, he caught the eye in several games with forceful impacts off the bench.
For his region, he has emerged as a hard-hitting, uncompromising presence and he is only going to get better. His form in the Christmas derbies against Cardiff Blues and the Ospreys was sensational.
12. Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets)
It’s a strange one. Pre-Six Nations many were starting to doubt Parkes, wondering what had become of the player who performed so well last season.
But the centre answered his critics emphatically. His man-of-the-match effort against Scotland sticks clearly in the mind, guts and mental toughness, and he claimed the only try against Ireland. For the Scarlets, too, he has steadily returned to better form.
11. Jarrod Evans (Cardiff Blues)
How good is the Cardiff Blues No. 10 capable of becoming?
He has again performed strongly this season, with his display against Glasgow Warriors during the Six Nations especially memorable, coming as it did with enough tricks to gain admission to the Magic Circle.
And here’s the thing about Evans: he has improved his game control and is rapidly becoming a genuine playmaker.
Maybe, with Rhys Patchell having had a difficult season, the youngster may yet bag a World Cup spot.
Jonny Wilkinson likens World Cup-winning England side to Wales' current crop
10. Nicky Smith (Ospreys)
The Wales prop is having a big campaign, strong over the ball and an increasing force at scrum time.
For the Ospreys he has excelled with his appetite for hard work and willingness to graft. When he plays, he makes a difference, and a big difference at that. Against the Dragons in Swansea recently it was Smith who did the damage as the visitors’ scrum crumpled like an accordion.
Smith has also shone for Wales, particularly in the autumn. Made a big impact when he came on against England, too.
A player who is on the up in a big way.
9. Olly Robinson (Cardiff Blues)
He has been a constant at Cardiff Blues, there all the time and more often than not exerting influence, especially at the breakdown.
A chart-topping 24 turnovers in the PRO14 this season underline what an important player he has become.
The possession steals have helped fuel the Blues’ attacking game, while Robinson has also put in 230 tackles, a tally exceeded by only one player in the league.
8. Adam Beard (Ospreys)
That it has been a breakthrough campaign for the youngster could be seen from the plaudits he received after Wales’ game with Ireland in the Six Nations. Respected judges said he wore the look of a future Lion that day.
He isn’t the finished article — of course he isn’t at the age of just 23 — but his maul defence, tackling and appetite for hard work have made him an important player for Wales and the Ospreys this season.
7. Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues)
In some respects, he remains a player who divides opinion, but then the same can be said about so many who have worn the Wales No. 10 jersey over the years.
The plus point above all others with Anscombe is he’s a winner.
He takes the field with total belief in himself and that kind of mentality rubs off on team-mates.
He has produced a number of big displays for Cardiff Blues, alongside the ‘cometh the hour, cometh the man’ effort for Wales in the Grand Slam encounter against Ireland.
Gareth Anscombe's options assessed as Ospreys attempt to poach him away from Cardiff Blues
6. Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues)
He started the season a shade slowly because of an injury from the previous campaign and he's finished it early because of another bump.
But in between Navidi was something else, a selfless grafter willing to take no end of knocks for his side. There is nothing flash about him, but he’s invaluable to every team he plays for. If there is a better dreadlocked flanker in the world, could the chap in question pick up a phone and let us know about it.
5. Jonathan Davies (Scarlets)
Opponents trying to pass Davies during the Six Nations might have had better luck finding their way out of Hampton Court maze at midnight. His defensive excellence and understanding with Hadleigh Parkes were key to Warren Gatland’s side winning the Grand Slam.
For the Scarlets, too, his performance level has been consistently high.
Any team in the world would be pleased to have him in their side.
4. Ken Owens (Scarlets)
There was a time in mid-season when the Scarlets were experiencing all kinds of difficulties, beset by injuries and out of form.
Owens steadied matters by switching to No. 8 and playing the house down with his tenacious ball-carrying.
The Sherriff’s resolve was also key for Wales in the Six Nations. He had an excellent tournament.
3. Johnny McNicholl (Scarlets)
Want to know what a sensational set of stats looks like? Try McNicholl’s in the Guinness PRO14 over the past eight-and-a-half months: eight tries, 1005 metres made, 158 carries, 23 clean breaks, 58 defenders beaten and 22 offloads.
The man has been Venus hot and then some more.
2. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys)
If this list were only about performances for Wales, the 33-year-old would be comfortably on top.
His efforts during the Six Nations, especially, were on a different planet and deservedly secured him the player-of-the-tournament accolade.
For the Ospreys he has been lightly used, part of an arrangement to keep him going through to the World Cup and beyond. When he has played he has been his usual influential self, pushing standards through the roof. He has made eight appearances at regional level, his greatness having to be rationed out these days.
1. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys)
He has won six man-of-the-match awards, two of which came in the autumn Tests, and been in the frame for countless more. Some now believe he is is the world’s best openside flanker.
For Wales he has become the gritty player some doubted he could be.
For the Ospreys he continues to pop up here, there and everywhere and a few more places besides.
His consistency is something to behold and he may be at the peak of his powers, excellent when even slightly off his game.
Tipuric will be remembered as a great. Anyone who tops Alun Wyn Jones in this list has to be special.
