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Rob Howley fate decided as Matt Sherratt calls up Wales reinforcements
Matt Sherratt has wasted little time in putting his stamp on the Wales squad for the remainder of the Six Nations, calling up three players and sidelining coach Rob Howley.
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Cardiff head coach Sherratt was appointed on an interim basis on Tuesday, after Warren Gatland left his post following Wales’ 14th successive Test defeat in Rome last weekend.
He will take charge of the final three matches of the Six Nations, in which Wales are due to play Ireland and England at home, either side of a trip to Edinburgh to face Scotland.
Although Sherratt will not start the role in earnest until Monday, he has already made a couple of big decisions.
The Welsh Rugby Union confirmed on Thursday that Gloucester teammates Gareth Anscombe and Max Llewellyn and Harlequins flyhalf Jarrod Evans would join up with the squad when the players return to The Vale next week.
Owen Watkin and Liam Williams have both been released from the group who will prepare for the match against Ireland on February 22, due to injuries picked up earlier in the championship.
Meanwhile, it was also announced that Howley, who was one of Gatland’s most trusted assistants and remains under contract, would not be part of Sherratt’s coaching team for the remainder of the Six Nations.
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Wales squad
Forwards
Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby– 12 caps)
James Botham (Cardiff Rugby – 18 caps)
Elliot Dee (Dragons – 53 caps)
Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 105 caps)
Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 20 caps)
WillGriff John (Sale Sharks – 2 caps)
Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby – 7 caps)
Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets – 5 caps)
Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 20 caps) captain
Sam Parry (Ospreys – 7 caps)
Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 7 caps)
Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 24 caps)
Will Rowlands (Racing 92 – 38 caps)
Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers – 51 caps)
Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby – 3 caps)
Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 37 caps)
Henry Thomas (Scarlets – 6 caps)
Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – 15 caps)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 54 caps)
Ben Warren (Ospreys – uncapped)
Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 3 caps)
Backs
Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 61 caps)
Gareth Anscombe (Gloucester Rugby – 39 caps)
Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Rugby – 6 caps)
Dan Edwards (Ospreys – 2 caps)
Jarrod Evans (Harlequins – 8 caps)
Josh Hathaway (Gloucester Rugby – 3 caps)
Eddie James (Scarlets – 4 caps)
Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby – 5 caps)
Ellis Mee (Scarlets – uncapped )
Blair Murray (Scarlets – 5 caps)
Joe Roberts (Scarlets – 2 caps)
Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 7 caps)
Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby – 9 caps)
Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 40 caps)
Rhodri Williams (Dragons – 7 caps)
Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby – 61 caps)
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Good - how Gatland thought that ignoring Llewellyn was the right decision and not picking a true 10 would work!! Sense now prevails. And I’m an Englishman (albeit one-eyed Gloucester fanatic)
Completely agree! Gatland didn’t deserve to fall in the sword but he wasn’t blameless, his picks were shocking this year. Why on earth would he persist with putting an OKish inside centre Ben Thomas at fly-half when you’ve got Anscombe, especially with a new backline!