"We need to move on. I think we need to start picking a team which is going to carry us for the next five to 10 years.
"The senior players have been amazing and they're good friends of mine and I've shared some amazing moments with them in the dressing room. But I think we need to look beyond that now and start putting more faith in in younger players."
Those were the words of Sam Warburton to the BBC this week in the aftermath of Wales' troubling defeat to Italy last Saturday. It's time for Wales to restructure and move away from the players who have been the very bedrock of the team for a decade or so.
The question is who will be those men who fall by the wayside? And are there good enough youngsters to take their places?
READ MORE: The time has come for Alun Wyn to step aside
Well, just as was the case as when Dan Biggar suggested that Saturday might have been the last chance for some players, it's hard to know exactly who would bite the bullet. But what we can do is look at the senior figures in the squad and assess just how secure they are in Wayne PIvac's plans, presuming he continues in the job.
Of the numerous players that Pivac has included in Wales squads since taking over in 2019, there are currently 27 players available to him who have already celebrated their 30th birthday. That's a lot. Some are well into their mid-30s.
However, for starters there are a number who already seem firmly out of the picture, although they are probably not the individuals Warburton was alluding to.
The forgotten men
Front-row contingent Rhodri Jones , Sam Parry and Kirby Myhill don't appear to be in the current plans - with the latter two just some of the names Wales have turned to in a bid to find depth in the hooker position. Wales now have that, with Ryan Elias and Dewi Lake impressing in this year's Six Nations.
Further back in the pack, the likes of Josh Turnbull , Aaron Shingler and Bradley Davies are also unlikely to feature in a squad any time soon. The same could be said for Rhys Webb and Lloyd Williams , despite Wales' lack of scrum-half depth.
And even with his remarkable comeback from injury and scintillating form for the Scarlets, it just doesn't feel like Scott Williams will get a recall between now and the World Cup.
Facing axe after Italy
Then we have some current squad members who could fall foul of Biggar's post-match comments. Perhaps the first player that comes to mind in that instance is Johnny McNicholl .
While he was impressive at full-back in the autumn, the Scarlets man failed to catch the eye as he book-ended the tournament with appearances against Ireland and Italy. At the age of 31, he might be among the first left behind as Pivac tries to turn things around.
When Willis Halaholo was withdrawn early against Italy, it felt significant. Given Wales' lack of depth in midfield and how keen Pivac has been to play him, it seems unlikely that he'd be cast aside. But at a similar age to McNicholl, it's not unfeasible he falls out of favour.
Or maybe it'll be one of Wales' greatest servants, Jonathan Davies , who slips out of centre contention. Injuries have caught up with the two-time Lions tourist to an extent and Pivac sees him as a 12, rather than a 13 where he once could lay a claim to be the best in the world. At 33, his place is no longer assured.
It felt like Davies was being phased out during the autumn. The lack of new faces in the position coming through is one caveat though, with the Dragons' Aneurin Owen out with a long-term injury.
With Webb and Lloyd Williams not getting a look-in at scrum-half, could Gareth Davies be the next to join them? The World Cup starter in Japan three years, he's been firmly usurped by Tomos Williams, while Kieran Hardy has got the nod as deputy for the big games.
Although Davies was handed the start against Italy - which turned out to be a poisoned chalice - he wasn't trusted off the bench when Wales needed to close out a tight match against Scotland. It does feel like perhaps the trust in the Scarlets scrum-half isn't quite what it was.
Again though, where are the young faces pushing through to force him out? The 28-year-old Rhodri Williams was the next cab off the rank when Pivac looked for cover last week.
The injury absentees
There is also a host of players returning from long-term injuries for whom the question lies in whether they'll return to a Welsh squad.
Dan Lydiate has been name-checked enough by Pivac as a key missing figure that, even with just one appearance under the former Scarlets coach, you'd assume he'll be in contention now he's back fit. Wales need a physical workhorse at six to do a lot of the unseen work and Pivac seems unsure of younger models like Shane Lewis-Hughes.
What about Leigh Halfpenny ? It was last summer that he sustained another bad knee injury on his 100th cap against Canada. Aged 33 and returning from a significant injury is not easy, although Halfpenny' is the ultimate professional.
The question is whether Wales would be better served bringing him back or investing time in a Mat Protheroe, Tom Rogers or Ioan Lloyd? It could well be the latter.
Speaking of veterans, what about Ken Owens? His place as Wales' undisputed first-choice hooker has looked secure even in his absence, but the continue growth of Elias and the emergence of Lake means he's not guaranteed to walk straight back in as was previously the case.
Perhaps the one long-term injury absentee who should be assured of his place is Justin Tipuric . Despite missing a year of rugby, such is his class and the sheer importance of his presence to so many different facets of Pivac's team, not only would it be a shame were he to return at a lesser level, but it would be a monumental blow to Pivac's plans.
Taine Basham and Jac Morgan have done well, but there's only one Justin Tipuric.
George North, unlike the others, has yet to hit the 30 mark. He doesn't reach it until next month, but he's very much of the veteran category with 104 Test caps and having been a Wales player since 2010.
Expect him to be a key figure moving forward, though, albeit in his new position at centre rather than racing down the wing.
The fringe figures
While he will come straight back in, there are other figures who remain in and around the squad who could easily fall by the wayside in the coming 18 months - with fly-halves Rhys Priestland and Gareth Anscombe likely seen as the third and fourth choices at the minute in that position.
Were Jarrod Evans to finally get international recognition, or even Rhys Patchell to force his way back in, it would be one of Anscombe or Priestland who paid the price.
Alun Wyn and the others
Of course, there are still a number of senior figures who remain key to Wales. As of yet, no-one has forced them out.
Liam Williams is still the best option at full-back and seems likely to remain in the position - with no one really battering the door down to challenge him.
The same can be said for Taulupe Faletau , with only Aaron Wainwright emerging as a Test level alternative at No. 8 in recent times. Moving forward, that's a concern, but Faletau's remarkable form more than warrants its place.
Across the back-row, it's a similar story for Josh Navidi . It's remarkable to think he was overlooked for so long, given how important he's become to the side.
Dan Biggar - for all his critics - still looks Wales' best option at fly-half. It's hard to see that changing any time soon, whatever the team's lack of creativity.
Alex Cuthbert is back in the picture after a long absence and fully deserving of his place moving forward. Perhaps his return to Test rugby, along with Priestland, highlights the lack of options coming through, but few can argue with his performances on the pitch during this year's Six Nations.
Wyn Jones started the season as a Test Lion, but his stock has fallen a touch at times since. Dropped in the autumn, he's also been switched out for Gareth Thomas during this year's Six Nations.
His solid start to the tournament should provide him with enough credit after the wobbly autumn. But he's perhaps no longer guaranteed a place in the side any more.
Then, finally, there are Will Rowlands and a certain Alun Wyn Jones . With Adam Beard's role in the side, running the attacking lineout, clearly defined, the likelihood is that only one of these two can start moving forward.
There are no guarantee that Rowlands will get the nod, despite his impressive performances. But it does feel like the days of 'Alun Wyn Jones and another' being carved in stone into the Welsh second-row are over.
