Wayne Pivac could be forgiven for feeling he’s walked onto the set of Casualty meets Holby City as he counts the number of Wales summer tour candidates who are sidelined by injuries.
But it’s not all bad news for the national head coach. A number of Welsh players performed exceptionally well over the weekend. Some are well known, others less so. Indeed, one or two may not even merit the description of being household names in their own households.
But, still, it matters not. What Pivac will be looking for are those who are delivering on the pitch rather than those who are the subject of column inches in newspapers. Here’s the list of individuals who did their causes no harm ahead of Wales’ summer tour to South Africa.
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Jonathan Davies
A big name to start. The Scarlet has found some form as the regular season plays out its final knockings.
A mistimed tackle on Josh Lewis may have attracted some adverse comment, but otherwise the 34-year-old had a rock-solid game for his region against the Dragons, shutting up shop in defence, achieving a couple of turnovers and running hard with ball in hand. Following on from his powerful show against Cardiff, he has upped his game significantly after a quiet Six Nations and Pivac will be delighted.
Liam Williams
A leg injury took him out of proceedings around the hour mark against the Dragons. Had he stayed on the Scarlets might have won. As it was they conceded 17 unanswered points in the final eight minutes en route to losing 38-27.
Williams was relishing being in the thick of the contest. He’d set out his stall with a turnover early on. Then he scored a try early in the second half, while he was rarely less than dangerous with his running and came up with a superlative backwards pass that set up Johnny Williams’ try.
The hope will be that the knock that saw him leave the field isn't bad, for, moving to Cardiff in the summer, he is a player who deserves to end his time with the Scarlets on a high. Pivac will want him for South Africa as Williams is Test animal who plays with an edge.
Johnny Williams
He featured off the bench after a head injury ended Joe Roberts’ evening early. Williams immediately sought to stamp his authority on the game with a number of tackles that jolted opponents.
He isn’t the last word in subtlety, but he is not easy to play against and boasts the kind of physicality that could come in useful on tour in South Africa.
Jack Dixon
The deserved man-of-the-match in the Scarlets v Dragons game, the unsung Dixon backed up his recent strong form with another display packed with power and purpose. He made three clean breaks, beat four defenders and made 46 metres from his nine runs. Also he came up with big moments that saw him score a try and set one up.
There were also 10 passes lobbed into the mix for good measure. You can read more about Dixon here. The 27-year-old is playing with confidence and a fine tour of South Africa with the Dragons, shining in adversity, and strong games against Gloucester and the Scarlets underline form that’s bright enough for Pivac to track him closely.
Harrison Keddie
“That’s the game.” So said Ben Whitehouse as he signalled a famous Dragons victory over the Scarlets in Llanelli. A roar of “yessss!” came from the man standing barely a metre away. There was also a double fist-pump in celebration.
Dragons captain Harrison Keddie again stood tall for his side. There may be others who attract more headlines, but he is the heart of the team with his commitment and physicality. He also captained the team well at Parc y Scarlets, making his points persuasively rather than alienating the referee.
Will Rowlands
Arguably Wales’ best player during the Six Nations, he brought his A game to west Wales for the Dragons as well. He didn’t miss a beat in defence and is a second row who carries and grafts. Were there a Welsh rugby player of the season award he’d be there or thereabouts to win it.
Ben Carter
So little was seen of him in the Six Nations, people might have started to worry. But the 6ft 6in forward returned to the Dragons’ starting line-up and banged in an excellent display against the Scarlets.
His work at restarts was exceptional and in a top-class team effort in defence, no-one performed better than second row Carter, who made 19 tackles with every one nailed. He’s only 21 and has stacks of promise, notwithstanding his relative inactivity during the Six Nations.
Taine Basham
Replaced on 52 minutes but he had scored a try and contributed 13 tackles in a clean defensive sheet before exiting. There may not have been any Hollywood charges from the 22-year-old but he supported well during his time on the field and is a player who always leaves an imprint on a game and that was the case again, despite his early substitution.
Aaron Wainwright
A player Pivac considers a No. 8 has Taulupe Faletau blocking his way with Wales, but he caught the eye in Llanelli with several storming runs that ripped the Scarlets’ defence open. What’s good about Wainwright is he’s no one-trick pony, either. He also fronts up in defence and there were 11 tackles as he played an important role in the Dragons’ unexpected victory.
Tommy Reffell
He’s playing for England’s top club right now and on Saturday he helped them into the Heineken Champions Cup semi-finals. There may not have been the fireworks that featured in his extraordinary display at Stade Marcel Michelin the weekend before, but Reffell still played his part in Leicester Tigers’ win over Clermont Auvergne at Stade Marcel Michelin.
Tomos Williams
"Tomos Williams is the best player on the field in the first 50 minutes by a stretch." Such was the contention of David Flatman from the BT Sport commentary box as Cardiff took on Saracens.
Williams scored a wonderful solo try and then set up a five-pointer for Owen Lane. He was inventive and able to cause Saracens through his quick thinking and ability to see opportunities that aren’t obvious to others. His was definitely a good-news effort for Wales’ head coach to savour.
James Botham
Two turnovers and 15 tackles from Botham against Saracens, continuing the Cardiff back-rower’s consistently strong form. He is good over the ball, a textbook tackler and plays as if he means it every time he goes onto the field.
He is also versatile. If the Wales selectors have been following his performances this season, it’s hard to see how they wouldn’t have been impressed.
Josh Navidi
He always makes a difference to any side he plays for. A week earlier Cardiff were weak and lacking resolve when it mattered against the Scarlets. Navidi is never weak and never lacks resolve.
He can thrive in any company and he was excellent against Saracens, leading from the front, putting in hard tackles and wading through any number of unglamorous jobs. Dai Young, and Wayne Pivac, will know his worth. Of course they will.
