One of the biggest calls Warren Gatland will have to make for the Six Nations is who to install as Wales captain, with a number of strong candidates putting up their hands.
Justin Tipuric and Dan Biggar have led Wales over the past two campaigns, while Adam Beard has leadership qualities and so do Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake, Ken Owens and, of course, Alun Wyn Jones.
Wayne Pivac handed the arm band to Tipuric for the November Tests, but Biggar is returning to the fold after injury and there is support for him to take the role, with ex-Wales wing Shane Williams giving his backing to the idea.
“The odds seem stacked in favour of a return to Dan Biggar,” Williams says when discussing the captaincy in his column in The Rugby Paper.
“That seems sensible to me.
“He’s fully fit, playing regularly and commands the utmost respect within the Welsh camp.
“On top of that, he’s one of the most competitive people I’ve ever met and deals so well with the media
“It will be good to have him back at No. 10 and I think he can drive the standards within the Welsh camp.”
The decision will be important. When Gatland took over for his first stint at Wales head coach, in 2008, he named a fresh leader in Ryan Jones, the upgrading of a new man allowing the New Zealander to put his own stamp on the squad.
There have been whispers that Jac Morgan could be Wales’ Ryan Jones for 2023, a player handed the captaincy at a young age, and the back rower did lead Wales U20s.
But Tipuric has been inspirational as skipper for the Ospreys of late, helping to drive them to a Heineken Champions Cup double over French champions Montpellier and also an away win over Cardiff.
And Biggar made a favourable impression during his stint in charge.
Here are the main contenders Gatland will likely choose from.
THE CANDIDATES
Dan Biggar
The fly-half embodied leadership by example in the first Test against South Africa in the summer. He played in the Springboks’ faces and the rest of his side took their cue from him.
He is also well-nigh certain of his place in the team.
Without him in the autumn, Wales didn’t perform well, missing the direction and influence he brings from fly-half.
That said, he is based in Toulon these days. That’s no problem if he has an agreement in place that allows him to be available for all Wales training sessions and games. If no such arrangement exists, then it could prove an issue.
Still, the fiercely competitive and rugby-intelligent Biggar’s a strong candidate, with his media skills a major plus.
Justin Tipuric
The old proverb tells us that a good captain is not made from calm seas.
Justin Tipuric’s example suggests there is much to commend those words.
He was at the helm with Wales for the ill-fated November series when the team lost three out of four matches, the tale of woe including a loss to Georgia.
The fault for those setbacks was far from Tipuric’s.
But, still, it was a turbulent time to be skipper.
However, he has led the Ospreys superbly.
His decision-making has been good and his performances have been through the roof in recent weeks, setting an example and helping to bring about two wins over French champions Montpellier and a triumph over Cardiff, with Leinster also receiving a hurry-up.
Players respect him and if he’s not considered nailed-on for a place, then it’s hard to know who would be.
Jac Morgan
He had a memorable autumn campaign and has performed consistently strongly on the regional scene as well. In a past life, he showed himself to be a leader for Wales U20s, sometimes appearing to be taking on the opposition on his own.
Wales used him as a No. 6 in November and Morgan emerged as one of their best players.
The competition for starting spots in the back row is intense, but the Amman Valley product impressed Gatland in the pre-Christmas Tests, with the Kiwi him as a “one-man wrecking machine”. The youngster also performed outstandingly for his region as they completed a double over Montpellier.
There’s also speculation that he’s being consider for the captaincy.
Don’t rule him out, then.
Ken Owens
He has vast captaincy experience with the Scarlets and is a player who has seen it, done it and got the stud marks to prove it.
There isn’t much that will happen on a rugby pitch that will surprise The Sheriff.
That said, as in the back-row, the competition at hooker is molten hot.
Might that influence any call over the captaincy?
It depends on how Gatland views Owens.
If he sees him as a shoo-in, then it won’t matter. But with the likes of Dewi Lake and Bradley Roberts in the mix, others are pressing.
Alun Wyn Jones
Like Owens, he has immense depths of experience, in his case including a long stint as a Wales captain under Gatland, who knows and respects Jones.
He’s likely to start as well in the Six Nations, with Will Rowlands injured and Jones continuing to front up for the Ospreys, not missing a beat in defence against Montpellier and at the heart of the relentlessly physical exchanges.
The issue for Gatland is whether he’s looking to appoint a captain for the Six Nations or a man to lead all the way through to the World Cup. It’s not inconceivable Rowlands will be available for the global tournament, assuming the 60-cap rule is tweaked, in which case competition for second-row spots will heat up.
At 37, Jones is still defying those who predicted his days on the Test scene might be numbered.
The likelihood is Gatland will leave him to concentrate on his game rather than adding the extra responsibility of captaincy.
Isn’t it?
Adam Beard
What a fine lineout forward he’s developing into, secure on his own ball and a threat on opposition possession. He’s also improving his game around the field. He said last year there were areas where he wanted to get better and he’s worked seriously hard to get where he wants to be.
Wayne Pivac made his Wales vice-captain, so Beard has experience in the leadership department. He also takes responsibility and is now playing like an international whenever he takes the field.
You’d say he was pretty certain of his place as a starter, too.
All good, then.
His claims for the skipper’s job are impressive.
It’s just that the same applies to a number of others.
Dewi Lake
“Next Welsh captain. Heard it here.”
So said dual-code great Jonathan Davies in the summer after Lake had produced a big performance for Wales against South Africa.
History tells us the next Welsh captain was to be Justin Tipuric, but Lake has future leader stamped all over him.
His performances for his region continue to be hugely impactful and impressive. He plays as if there's no tomorrow and he never leaves a field without having emptied the tank. He is physical and ultra-committed. In short, he's a wonderful prospect.
He also leads.
The complication is that Ken Owens plays in the same position so it’s not entirely clear who Wales will see as their number one hooker.
But Lake will wear the armband one day. Heard it here.
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