Wales - 2019/20 - Pivac, Grand Slams, and beyond - Post-RWC '19 and 2020 6Ns build up

First topic message reminder :

Wales' 2020 Six Nations Squad:

Forwards (21)

Rhys Carre (Saracens) (6 Caps)
Rob Evans (Scarlets) (36 Caps)
Wyn Jones (Scarlets) (22 Caps)
Elliot Dee (Dragons) (29 Caps)
Ryan Elias (Scarlets) (9 Caps)
Ken Owens (Scarlets) (73 Caps)
Leon Brown (Dragons) (6 Caps)
WillGriff John (Sale) (*uncapped)
Dillon Lewis (Blues) (22 Caps)
Jake Ball (Scarlets) (42 Caps)
Adam Beard (Ospreys) (20 Caps)
Seb Davies (Blues) (7 Caps)
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (134 Caps) (CAPTAIN)
Will Rowlands (Wasps) (*uncapped)
Cory Hill (Dragons) (24 Caps)
Aaron Shingler (Scarlets) (26 Caps)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons) (18 Caps)
Taulupe Faletau (Bath) (72 Caps)
Ross Moriarty (Dragons) (41 Caps)
Josh Navidi (Blues) (23 Caps)
Justin Tipuric (Osprey) (72 Caps)

Backs (17)

Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (51 Caps)
Rhys Webb (Toulon) (31 Caps)
Tomos Williams (Blues) (16 Caps)
Dan Biggar (Northampton) (79 Caps)
Owen Williams (Gloucester) (3 Caps)
Jarrod Evans (Blues) (3 Caps)
Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets) (25 Caps)
Nick Tompkins (Saracens) (*uncapped)
Owen Watkin (Ospreys) (22 Caps)
George North (Ospreys) (91 Caps)
Josh Adams (Blues) (21 Caps)
Owen Lane (Blues) (2 Caps)
Johnny McNicholl (Scarlets) (*uncapped)
Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester) (*uncapped)
Jonah Holmes (Leicester Tigers) (3 Caps)
Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets) (85 Caps)
Liam Williams (Saracens) (62 Caps)

I agree Secret. Gatland wasn't one dimensional. But he was prescriptive. The 'plan b' was usually throw it to Shane or just start playing rugby as and when it's needed in the dying minutes.

With Pivac if we take the Scarlets as the template it allows for much more room for playing instinctive rugby. The worry is that the rugby world is moving away from that. New Zealand learned that lesson last year and Gatland is now the man in waiting if all things go well for him. France hired Shaun Edwards and look at their improvement (well until today) with a more disciplined, structured, less 'instinctive' game.

The main problem with Gatland was seeing players like Tipuric wasted. Tipuric seems key to Pivac's style already. We need to use Welsh talent because it is my humble opinion we have some of the best players in Europe in terms of individual talent.

Very sad to see a potentially world class talent in Rhun Williams have to retire.

Slightly surprised by this move but it's probably for the best for everyone.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/52227443

Parkes is likely to be replaced by Haloholo as soon as Haloholo is fit. With Tompkins, Jon Davies, and Owen Watkin also in the mix it's likely he's peaked as a Welsh player already and it's one last chance for a big payout and another culture change before (presumably) returning to NZ when he retires.

Excellent service for the Scarlets who would have been a cult hero had he never played for Wales, but as it is he did an admirable job when called up over the last 2 years or so.

In the short term it perhaps adds a headache for Wales though. Corey Baldwin could be a top player for Wales but is unlikely to get consistent game time down at Exeter. There are a few other exciting young players but they look more like 13s than 12s which is where we have struggled for a long time. He could still stay of course but maybe this is stemming from what Pivac has told him about his Welsh chances.

Pob lwc to Hadleigh either way.