There has been an argument from the outset that Warren Gatland should use this Six Nations to blood fresh faces and try out new combinations ahead of the World Cup amid something of a changing of the guard.
In the wake of the heavy home defeat to Ireland on the opening weekend, that contention grows stronger by the minute.
The reality is Wales are not going to win any trophies this season. The Grand Slam and the Triple Crown are already gone, while there seems next to no chance of them forcing their way into the title mix with three of their last four matches away from home.
So maybe this is the time to take the hit in terms of the finishing position in the table and look to get something else out of the campaign?
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If Wales end up fifth or even bottom of the pile, but unearth four or five players who can be key figures in the World Cup and beyond, that would seem a decent trade.
When you reflect on the 34-10 thumping off Ireland, the players who showed up best were pretty much all rookies - Joe Hawkins, Jac Morgan, Rio Dyer, along with subs Dafydd Jenkins and Tommy Reffell.
So that would suggest this is the way to go and that it’s time to dig the new breed and lower the age profile of the team. Let’s not forget that Gatland has history for doing just that in the year of a World Cup.
If you think back to 2011, he drafted in the likes of Taulupe Faletau, Rhys Priestland, Jonathan Davies, Scott Williams, Dan Lydiate and Lloyd Williams, while installing fellow youngster Sam Warburton as skipper.
They all ended up being involved in the memorable quarter-final victory over Ireland in Wellington at that year’s World Cup. Perhaps it is time to allow history to repeat itself.
With that as the template, let’s look at the kind of radical shake-up you could go for.
We know there is going to be a change at lock against Scotland with Alun Wyn Jones having failed a HIA and it’s seen as a choice between Dafydd Jenkins and the uncapped Rhys Davies there.
Well, in the spirit of boldness and testing out fresh options, how about starting with each of them in the boilerhouse? That would look to have a nice balance, with Davies providing bulk, physicality and close-quarter work-rate, while Jenkins offers athleticism at the lineout and around the park, along with the maturity of someone who captained Exeter in the Premiership at just 19.
In the back row, there’s a strong case for starting Tommy Reffell on the openside ahead of Justin Tipuric. It was a tight call going into the Championship given his form for Leicester and he merits an opportunity after his positive impact as a sub on Saturday.
In the first half, Wales had no answer to Ireland’s rapid recycling and paid the price. There are few better in the business at slowing and stealing opposition ball than Reffell, while he further stems the flow with his assertive tackling.
With Wales tending to kick for position a fair bit, you need someone to win you the ball back when it’s been thumped down into enemy territory and the pilfering Pencoed product is highly adept at that.
Again, you would have a decent balance then, with his nuggety nature complementing the carrying of Jac Morgan and the all-round class of Taulupe Faletau in the breakaway unit, with Faletau potentially serving as more of a lineout option.
As for the front row, I know it won’t happen as he isn’t in the squad, but I would like to see Nicky Smith start at loosehead prop. He has been the form player in his position in Welsh rugby with his destructive scrummaging, while he’s also very effective over the ball. His omission remains a mystery.
There may be an injury-enforced change on the other side of the scrum, with Tomos Francis sustaining a tight calf, so that would see Dillon Lewis starting with Leon Brown providing carrying impact off the bench.
Behind the scrum, if you are being really bold you go for Mason Grady at 13. Yes, he is raw, but he also has the raw attributes, in terms of physique, power and pace. It can take two or three players to haul him down and, with the defence sucked in, the space is then there for others to exploit.
You get the feeling Grady and Hawkins are the future in the centre and maybe it’s time for the future to begin now.
At fly-half, we all know what Dan Biggar brings with his control, kicking game and ultra competitive nature. At some point ahead of the World Cup, we need to look at the alternative options. With Gareth Anscombe sidelined, Owen Williams is at the head of the taxi rank presently and his form for the Ospreys merits consideration.
He too offers tactical game-management, along with a bit more of an attacking approach and it would be interesting to watch how he goes alongside Tomos Williams to see if that half-back partnership sparks.
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You could have the insurance of the likes of Biggar, Tipuric, Rhys Webb and George North among the replacements if you wanted to have an old head to turn to.
There would also be an opportunity to give further fresh faces game-time off the bench in the shape of Christ Tshiunza and Bradley Roberts, with Keiran Williams and Teddy Williams further uncapped options.
Gatland may decide it’s a game too soon to give youth its head to such an extent, with a buoyant Scotland up in Murrayfield a tough initiation.
But, in the long term, it may be the right way to go as they take the high road to Edinburgh.
Simon Thomas' Wales team: Liam Williams; Josh Adams, Mason Grady, Joe Hawkins, Rio Dyer; Owen Williams, Tomos Williams; Nicky Smith, Ken Owens (capt), Dillon Lewis, Rhys Davies, Dafydd Jenkins, Jac Morgan, Taulupe Faletau, Tommy Reffell.
Replacements: Bradley Roberts, Rhys Carre, Leon Brown, Christ Tshiunza, Justin Tipuric, Rhys Webb, Dan Biggar, George North.
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