With so many young Welsh players on tour with the Lions, the
emerging starts of Rob Howley’s Wales side get a chance to stake their claims
for a test place with their two test tour to Japan.
Relative minnows of the rugby world, despite a growing part
of their populace beginning to play rugby and a progression league recruiting
better players with each season – Stephen Ferris for one is now plying his
trade there – Japan can actually boast a stronger side then Wales in terms of
international experience, even if that is entirely down to the successes of the
red men in the last two editions of the 6 Nations meaning that the entire first
choice team barring fly half Dan Biggar is in Australia for the Lions this
summer.
Wales' starting line-up have just 100 Test appearances
between them while the Japanese hold a significant edge in experience with a
combined total of 293 Test caps. As a sign of their steady improvement in the rugby
world, they can now call upon two Super Rugby players in Highlanders scrum-half Fumiaki Tanaka –
ever the fringe sniper and Melbourne Rebels hooker Shota Horie, and they are
now well established as the best South Asian nation, with their dominant 5 Nations
win being evidence of that – they conceded only 8 points in doing a 4 win
‘Grand Slam’, so this will be no cakewalk for the young Welsh side which bloods
11 uncapped players including the likes of Emyr Phillips, Scott Andrews, and
James King – the latter of whom has been
particularly impressive at domestic level.
A halfback pairing of Lloyd Williams and Daniel Biggar – who
have linked up before – brings quality and tactical control to the table while
Owen and Liam Williams are exciting backline talents who should be able to
prosper given this chance, and this looks to be a very good opportunity for
young talentsd to take a claim for a first XV that is a closed shop more often
than not thanks to top international successes, and it would be disappointing if
they couldn’t’ cover a 15 point handicap.
Advice
1 pt Wales – 15 (evs Paddy Power)
No comments:
Post a Comment