Who’s fighting who in the Wales camp to survive the first round of Gatland World Cup cuts

Over the course of the few weeks, players will continue to filter into Welsh camp ahead of a brutal summer of training ahead of the World Cup.

Some of them won’t be there for too long.

From the moment Warren Gatland named a 54-man party at the start of last month, the Wales coach was quick to point out that the group of players would be trimmed down before the first training camp in Switzerland. Then once again, on their return, before finally being reduced to a squad of 33 for the tournament itself.

The task of cutting down from 54 to around 45 is already in motion – albeit unintentionally. Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb have decided to call time on their international careers months out from the tournament.

With Rhys Carre dropped after failing to ‘meet individual performance targets, it means there are only 50 players left. Realistically, that means just five players will need to be cut ahead of Gatland reducing his squad to the mid-40s.

With Carre being bombed out, Gatland will likely retain the loose-head quartet remaining – with the four hookers likely to remain the same.

However, the five tight-heads could be cut down. Tomas Francis and Dillon Lewis are the two who have been there and done it before, with Kieron Assiratti, Henry Thomas and Will Davies-King the new faces.

Unless there’s going to be a surprise, Francis and Lewis will stay with the squad, while Thomas seems to be a prop that Gatland sees Test potential in. When it comes to the Cardiff duo of Assiratti and Davies-King, the former has been a regular in the Arms Park side so it might be the latter who drops out.

In the second-row, it’s unclear what impact Alun Wyn’s retirement will have on Gatland’s thinking. Adam Beard, Will Rowlands, Cory Hill and Dafydd Jenkins seem nailed on, while Rhys Davies would also expect to be heading to Switzerland.

Where does that leave Cardiff’s Teddy Williams and Dragons’ Ben Carter? Maybe it depends on how the Wales coach sees second-row/back-row hybrid Christ Tshiunza.

If he sees him as a second-row option first and foremost, maybe Carter and Williams could have their places at risk. But if he’s a back-row option, then it’s just one of them and then another back-row member.

Of course, it’s not exactly guaranteed that Gatland is sold on Tshiunza. While Wayne Pivac was a huge advocate of his talents, Gatland opted not to take the Exeter man to Italy and France in the Six Nations, with one of his work-ons from Wales management his carrying.

If there is to be a back-row option to go, quite who is tricky to say for certain. Taulupe Faletau, Jac Morgan and Tommy Reffell are squad bankers, while Aaron Wainwright is probably fine, too.

Gatland has spoken plenty about the Dragons back-rower since returning to his post.

Rodney Parade team-mate Taine Basham is an interesting one, having falling out of favour with Pivac.

He’s not a traditional openside in the mould of Reffell or Morgan, but that’s probably to his advantage here. He’s an explosive ball-carrier and that’s a trait that Gatland could find valuable in a side that rarely punches holes in defences.

Josh Macleod was quietly effective for the Scarlets in the latter half of the season and is capable of playing across the back-row. Then there’s Dan Lydiate, who – as shown by the tour of South Africa last year – always does what it says on the tin.

Whoever Wales have to sacrifice here will be hard done by, such is the quality in the back-row resources – even with Tipuric’s retirement.

Perhaps, in terms of that first round of cuts ahead of Switzerland, you’d be looking at maybe two from any of Carter, Williams, Basham, Lydiate and Macleod.

In the backline, Webb’s retirement mean Wales likely won’t make any cuts in the scrum-half department. Four fly-halves also seems a solid number to be moving forward with.

So, it seems likely to be in midfield and the back-three where we’ll see a reduction.

Barring any other shock retirements or omissions, it’ll be a series of uncapped players fighting it out for those remaining spots.

In the centres, Nick Tompkins, Johnny Williams, George North and Mason Grady seem assured of retaining their places. So it comes down to perhaps one of either Max Llewellyn, Keiran Williams and Joe Roberts.

Llewellyn and Williams seem like the sort of hard-carrying, gainline-busting centres that Gatland would like. As for Roberts, he’s been a solid presence in the Scarlets midfield this season, establishing himself in the 13 jersey.

Despite that, it would seem like this is perhaps a World Cup too soon for Roberts.

Moving into the back-three, there’s a string of established names who surely won’t be in danger. Realistically, you’re probably looking at a battle between Tom Rogers and Cai Evans to see who remains in the squad.

There’s always the possibility both don’t make it, but odds are Wales will want to look at some more full-back options ahead of France so one will stay.

READ NEXT:

Alun Wyn Jones attracts interest from England following Ospreys exit

Time running out for Wales squad and Josh Navidi wants job in Iran

Jiffy in touching tribute after colleague’s death announced by Gary Lineker during FA Cup final

Wales rugby international’s stunning moment of skill watched by 14 million people