Just how many international standard back rows could Wales field?
The back row depth that Wales have is well-known – just ask Scarlets fans, who have long protested the lack of international recognition for James Davies, or any of the Welsh flankers playing in England who can’t get a look in.
Even when the world-class Sam Warburton announced his retirement, the response was one of respect and sadness rather than concern for the future of his position.
But plenty of nations can claim to have depth in this area. Ireland fans met the news of Seán O’Brien’s latest injury with calmness, New Zealand – as usual – have bags of talent across the back row, and even England are starting to look like they have options in this area after years of frustration.
So just how much depth does Wales have at the back of the scrum? RugbyPass has put together a list of the many international-standard back rows Wales have available to them.
1. Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau (157 combined caps)
Arguably the first-choice back row for Wales at the moment, although Ross Moriarty might have some thoughts on that, and definitely world-class. If fit, all three are guaranteed to be on the plane to Japan.
Tipuric’s ball-handling skills made him a cult player for Wales fans for a long time but he has absolutely come into his own of late, tackling and jackaling with the best of them. He has stepped up as a leader since Warburton’s retirement.
Navidi had to wait more than four years for his second cap but has rapidly become a key player with his jackaling, tackle count, and all-round work-rate routinely impressing. His versatility is also extremely useful.
Faletau has proved his quality time and again, regularly managing to do the business for Wales behind a retreating scrum and having an outstanding personal tour with the British and Irish Lions in 2017. One of the best in the world.
2. Aaron Wainwright, Ellis Jenkins, Ross Moriarty (42 combined caps)
Three players who have made a name for themselves in the past two years with some truly special performances. Moriarty actually went to the last World Cup as a replacement but he really gained recognition in the late loss to England during the 2017 Six Nations, after which he kept Faletau on the bench and earned himself a Lions call-up.
Jenkins and Wainwright both had outstanding games against South Africa in the autumn, with Jenkins called up from the bench to start at short notice and Wainwright, having taken his spot on the bench, being summoned early in the first half. Neither was able to play in their preferred position but both were standout performers and instrumental in the win.
3. Aaron Shingler, James Davies, Dan Lydiate (87 combined caps)
Lydiate is much more used to playing on the blindside although he has occasionally covered No8 where his big-match experience, hard tackling and carrying game come in handy.
The Scarlets’ partnership of Shingler and Davies complement his skill-set in this back row, with their excellence at the breakdown and ball-playing abilities. Davies’ background in sevens makes him particularly useful around the park.
All three have had injury troubles recently but their international quality is not in doubt. None of them will have given up on the dream of playing in Japan just yet.
4. Josh Turnbull, Thomas Young, James King (23 combined caps)
That Young would only be the fourth choice openside (without considering those players who play on the blindside to accommodate another flanker at No7) is often used to demonstrate Welsh depth in this area. Given his consistent form over the past few seasons, that is understandable.
Turnbull’s versatility has seen him regularly summoned to national squads, both for the sevens and 15s, from an early age, but hasn’t picked up many caps. His flexibility – he can also cover lock and No8 – and work ethic is valued but, throughout Warren Gatland’s tenure, the back row has been an area of strength so Turnbull has never really managed to break through.
King, a loyal servant at the Ospreys for years, boasts similar strengths and has suffered in the same way.
5. Ollie Griffiths, Sam Cross, Dan Baker (6 combined caps)
We’re down to the fifth-choice now and still looking at an all-internationally capped back row. Baker was once seen as a genuine rival to Faletau at No8 but a horrendous injury record, including a 15-month lay-off with knee ligament damage, has seen him fall far down the pecking order.
Griffiths has also suffered with injuries but is highly-rated within the Wales camp, often compared with Warburton for his conditioning and ability over the ball. He will almost certainly add to his tally of caps at some point.
Cross is another openside with a sevens background, appearing in the GB 2016 Olympic medal-winning side with Davies and charting up more than 100 appearances in the shorter format. He impressed for Ospreys against Saracens in his first professional 15s game and was immediately summoned to play his second for Wales. Since then, his form has faded but he remains a talent to keep an eye out on if that first game was any indication.
Ones for the future: Harrison Keddie, James Botham, Josh MacLeod
Ask any Welsh regional rugby fan and they will tell you they have got talent to spare in their back row still waiting for a cap. Even accounting for rose-tinted glasses, these are a trio who justify the enthusiasm.
Dragons’ Keddie is another who has seen his chances thwarted by injury, although his name has been bandied around for a few years now having impressed in the under-20s. His ball-carrying and mean means he is likely to be called up at some point if he can stay fit.
Cardiff Blues’ Botham made his PRO14 debut last season. He is highly-rated at the Blues and he will be looking to learn from his esteemed team-mates Navidi, Jenkins, Olly Robinson and Nick Williams.
Scarlets’ MacLeod is comfortable playing across the back row where he has been a regular since 2016, but his physicality and defence may see him emerge as a future Welsh No8. All three have the potential to feature in the future.
The bottom line is it seems the Welsh back row factory isn’t going out of business any time soon.
WATCH: Part one of the two-part RugbyPass documentary series, Operation Jaypan, which gives fans an insight into what they can expect at the World Cup finals in Japan
Comments on RugbyPass
Farcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
61 Go to comments