The clock is ticking ahead of the 2019 World Cup with the warm-up matches just around the corner. For Guinness PRO14 fans, there is plenty to ponder over who will make the cut and what impact they will have in Japan. As part of a new series, we are breaking down the big decisions facing the coaches, as well as looking at which players could emerge to shine on the biggest stage. We start with Wales, the Grand Slam champions led by Warren Gatland for the third and final time before he heads back to his native New Zealand. Squad breakdown Gatland has picked two previous squads, which gives us some indication of what the New Zealander prioritises. The most notable aspect of the 2015 squad was the decision to take just two hookers, although a repeat seems unlikely with the tournament taking place on the other side of the world. Four years ago he also selected five locks and six back three players, both of which seem on the higher side. This year, it seems certain he will go with a trio of hookers and likely just the four locks, but elsewhere there is a question over whether he takes two fly-halves or three, how many specialist centres he requires and if he can afford to take just five props. The Key Man It might seem predictable, but when you have just captained your team to a Grand Slam, have already been to three World Cups and started nine consecutive Tests for the Lions, Alun Wyn Jones is unquestionably the heartbeat of this side. The influence of the Ospreys lock stretches way beyond what he does on the pitch, which is already considerable. It is a brave man to ever question what Jones is capable of, but this seems likely to be his last World Cup. If that is the case, then Gatland could not ask for a better leader of men to spearhead the Welsh charge. Club Partnership Ospreys pair Jones and Adam Beard started together during the Six Nations, but when it comes to club partnerships thriving on the biggest stage, the prime example is the Scarlets midfield of Hadleigh Parkes and Jonathan Davies. We had become accustomed to seeing Davies with another Scarlets teammate, Scott Williams, who is now at the Ospreys. But since Parkes’ arrival in West Wales, he has established himself as one of the premier inside centres in the game. He and Davies complement each other perfectly and thanks to their partnership in the Guinness PRO14, know each other inside out. Williams and Ospreys teammate Owen Watkin provide very handy alternatives, but Gatland has put his faith in, and been rewarded by, the Parkes-Davies duo. The wild card Gatland has made continuity one of his calling cards, but he is not averse to mixing things up when required. If there is one area where someone might come out of nowhere to make the squad, it looks like the back three. If Josh Adams, George North, Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams look nailed on, there will likely be a fifth player taken. Cardiff Blues newcomer Hallam Amos has the experience, but his future teammate Owen Lane could force his way up the pecking order. Big, strong and quick, Lane fits the Gatland mould of a winger, and can even fill in at centre, a valuable commodity in a World Cup squad. With eight tries in 15 appearances for the Blues in the Guinness PRO14 last season, he showed he has a nose for the try-line, and if he does make the 31, do not be surprised if Lane goes on to play an important part in Japan. Key battle The toughest decision for Gatland, albeit one of the best from a coaching perspective, will be how to whittle down his back row. Seven players made the initial 42-man squad, while Ellis Jenkins of the Cardiff Blues could also come back into consideration. Those players are James Davies and Aaron Shingler of the Scarlets, Dragos duo Aaron Wainwright and Ross Moriarty, Ospreys’ Justin Tipuric and Josh Navidi of the Blues, as well as Bath’s Taulupe Faletau. Based on the Guinness Six Nations, Moriarty, Navidi, Tipuric and Wainwright would seem like they are in a great position to go. However considering how many other quality players there are at Gatland’s disposal, it will be tricky to take just five in all. Faletau, Davies and Aaron Shingler have all missed time through injury, but provide different skillsets to those who thrived in the Six Nations. As the out-and-out No.8 of the group, Faletau would seem well-placed to make it if he is fit, while Shingler could be battling Wainwright for the blindside flank role. Meanwhile, Davies and Jenkins are the more specialist sevens, in a country full of outstanding opensides. It will not be easy for Gatland, but whoever he plumps for, he will have a brilliant back row in Japan.
