Close to 500 days out from the start of the next Rugby World Cup, it might be worth asking the question — how are members of Welsh rugby’s golden generation shaping up in their quest to make the tournament in France next year?
The challenge was never going to be an easy one. Alun Wyn Jones, for instance, was 34 when the last global bash finished. A respected writer thereafter rated his chances of making the 2023 competition as no better than 3/10. Beset by injuries, Leigh Halfpenny was rated at 2/10. No sugar-coating was involved.
But there is an issue here. Indeed when to end the reliance on those seasoned stars who have served Wales so well over the years has been a question for Wayne Pivac since he took over as head coach from Warren Gatland. Many predicted that at some point he would have to make a number of huge calls. But injuries and wear and tear could yet take matters out of the coach’s hands.
Read more: Cardiff v Scarlets team news as Wales star lines up against future employers
We look at how some truly outstanding Welsh rugby servants are coping on the road to France.
Alun Wyn Jones
Age: 36. Age at start of 2023 World Cup: 37 years and 11 months.
The titan who has been Wales’ inspiration for more than a decade-and-a-half. For so long a Welsh team without him was like Westminster without Big Ben. But Jones has suffered two shoulder injuries over the past 10 months, the second of which caused him to miss virtually all of the autumn series and all but one game in the Six Nations. Wales had no option other than to learn to live without their talisman.
What is there to say? If it’s unfair to judge him on the woeful Wales team performance game against Italy, his first match in five months, the emergence of Will Rowlands this season has changed the picture.
Some would contend that the Ospreys lock should no longer be considered a first-choice Wales pick in the second row, with Adam Beard progressing significantly as well in recent months and becoming an important player to Pivac as the team’s vice-captain. Then there are the likes of Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tshiunza bubbling under. So there are grounds for a proper debate.
That said, writing Jones off still seems ill-advised at this point. No-one can go on for ever, but those close to him insist he is still in good physical condition. Paradoxically at his age, he needs to be playing, to engage some form and remind people that he can still do what he has always done. Victor Matfield made it through to a World Cup at 38 and played a front-line role for South Africa, so it can be done.
Verdict : There’s nothing definite here, but Pivac would like to see Jones in his squad for France and the 150-cap lock seemingly wants to be there. Don’t bet the farm on it, but there still seems a reasonable chance of Jones making a fifth global bash, though whether he’s an automatic starter remains to be seen. He also needs to avoid injuries.
Rhys Webb
Age: 33 and four months. Age at start of next World Cup: 34 and nine months.
It seems Pivac has already made up his mind on this one, with Webb not having started a Test for Wales since the autumn of 2020. A BBC Scrum V podcast, during which he was perceived by Pivac as saying he didn’t want to be Wales’ third-choice scrum-half, seems to have hit his chances.
The irony is he’s played as well as any Welsh No. 9 this season, consistently fronting up and leading by example in an Ospreys side that has struggled to fire in attack. Rare has been the game in which Webb has under-performed. In adversity, it’s been one of the most notable campaigns of his career.
Verdict: Pivac seems set on taking Tomos Williams, Kieran Hardy and Gareth Davies to the World Cup. There’s still time for Webb to change the narrative, but it might need an injury or two for him to do so. All things being equal, it’s going to be tough for him.
Ken Owens
Age: 35 years and three months. Age at start of next World Cup: 36 years and nine months.
Another Welsh rugby warrior who has enjoyed next to no luck in the 2021-22 season. The announcement that he’s unlikely to play again this term — “he’s nowhere near returning to training,” said Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel this week — put the tin hat on a miserable time for The Sheriff, who has been off limits since the autumn with a back injury.
As with Alun Wyn Jones, he is not the type to give up anything without a fight. But if he doesn’t play this term it’s hard to see how he can tour South Africa with Wales this summer. Dewi Lake and Ryan Elias also went well during the Six Nations, while Bradley Roberts is another option.
Verdict: Never say never for a player who has long been the Wales squad’s emotional touchstone, but Owens will need to defy considerable odds to make it to France.
Taulupe Faletau
Age: 31 years and five months. Age at start of next World Cup: 32 years and nine months.
No-one is indispensable, but Wales will be hard pushed to find a like-for-like replacement for Faletau when he eventually heads off into the sunset. In the meantime, the rest of us should enjoy him while we can.
Not that he’s likely to be going anywhere soon.
Still in prime condition, he continues to remind us of what Will Greenwood once said of him: “Faletau is a rock star. Error-free in seriously heavy-duty contact areas. Such soft hands when he needs them, makes big hits, competes well. Love watching this fellow play, never looks as though his heart rate goes above 50.”
He’ll be pushing 33 come the next World Cup but he’s just had a big Six Nations and Pivac will believe that Faletau playing in Wales next season will help the No. 8 manage his workload better.
Verdict: First name on the squad sheet.
Leigh Halfpenny
Age: 33 years and three months. Age at start of next World Cup: 34 years and eight months.
Maybe he’s Wales’ most popular rugby player of the past decade, with people admiring his modesty, bravery, professionalism, skill and passion for pulling on the red jersey. Halfpenny is someone who cares so much it hurts.
The Scarlets are not expecting to see him until next season after the major knee injury he suffered last summer, and then there’s the question of how long it will take for the little big man to get back up to speed.
A glimmer of hope for him on the Wales front is that there are not an abundance of specialist options at full-back. Should an injury befall either Liam Williams or Johnny McNicholl, the door could open, but Halfpenny’s first goal will be to make it back onto the field. Stuck on 96 caps for Wales, he will be able to count on a lot of support as he tries to make it to hundred Tests. But popular approval counts for only so much.
Verdict: It’ll be a huge achievement for him to make it to France.
Dan Biggar
Age: 32 and five months. Age at start of next World Cup: 33 and 10 months.
Biggar had a largely impressive Six Nations, with strong displays against Scotland, England and France, when he was unfortunate not to be made man of the match. As captain, he led by example, too. On the debit side, Wales’ attack continued to fire blanks with a lack of creativity across the midfield positions. But Pivac knows how much Biggar brings to a team in general terms, with the Northampton Saint’s galvanising qualities, resilience, game-management and experience considered priceless by the head coach. Here's more on Dan Biggar here.
Verdict: Book his seat on the plane.
Justin Tipuric
Age: 32 and eight months. Age at next World Cup: 34 years and one month.
He’s yet another one who has hit major injury trouble, with Tipuric’s entire season wiped out after the shoulder knock he sustained on Lions duty last summer. There have been doubts in certain quarters about whether he’ll make it back again, but nothing official has come from the Ospreys on that score.
So much depends, then, on how his injury heals over the summer.
There is also considerable competition for the openside shirt, but a fully fit Tipuric, with his rugby intelligence, skill, defensive excellence and ability to play from gun to tape, would still be a player Pivac would want to call on.
Verdict: If he makes a complete recovery from his injury, he stands a strong chance of featuring in Pivac’s World Cup panel.
Jonathan Davies
Age: 34 years and 0 months. Age at next World Cup: 35 and five months.
He has been a stalwart for Wales since 2009 and is still hugely respected and capable of doing a job. When he appeared off the bench for the Scarlets against Cardiff last weekend, he made an impression with his tackling and counter-rucking. He is a leader who doesn’t go missing when the pressure’s on.
All pluses so far, but Wales couldn’t find a settled midfield partnership during the Six Nations and Davies only started one game. Pivac still values his experience and know-how, but with George North coming back into the picture there could be hot competition in midfield, particularly if the selectors opt to included only three specialist centres in their squad for France.
Verdict : His lack of chances during the Six Nations tells a story. The odds are against Davies and he’s intelligent enough to know it, but if he can engage top form the picture could change.
Liam Williams
Age 30 at time of writing, celebrates his 31st birthday on Saturday, April 9. Age at start of next World Cup: 32 years and four months.
This summer he will celebrate 10 years as a Test player. Pivac is a long-time admirer, saying after a loss during his time at the Scarlets when Williams had pretty much battled the opposition on his own: “If we had 15 Liam Williamses, we’d beat anyone.” The Wales coach enjoys the fighting spirit and counter-attacking brio of the player known as Sanjay. There is also the point that Wales don’t have an abundance of alternatives at full-back.
Verdict: A certainty to be there.
