6 Surprises in Wales' Six Nations Squad

Warren Gatland has played his hand in the lead up to the Six Nations.

Gatland named his squad on Tuesday as he goes in search of a historic third straight title.

With a raft of Welshman involved in the Lions tour last summer and a bruising start to the 2013/14 season claiming a number of Welsh injury victims, a hat-trick of Six Nations triumphs will not come easy for the men in red.

So has Gatland got it right again or will his selection leave the door open for someone else to take the crown?

Here are six eyebrow-bothering decisions from the wily old Kiwi.

A Quarter of Gatland’s Squad Is Injured

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We all know modern-day rugby players spend most of the season carrying knocks of one sort or another.

But it brings home in quite stark fashion how high the attrition rate can be at the top level when a national coach is forced to pick a squad with 25 per cent of it currently needing treatment.

The Welsh set-up’s medical staff might want to order some extra sticking plasters to get this lot through the tournament.

According to Wales Online, these are the walking wounded: Jonathan Davies, Gethin Jenkins, Ken Owens, Andrew Coombs, Ryan Jones, Sam Warburton, Jamie Roberts and Liam Williams.

No New Names

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There is not one, single uncapped player in Warren Gatland’s squad.

The New Zealander has gone for the experienced names who have brought home the last two championships, with the introduction of a few younger names who have been in the squad previously.

Gatland would argue" "If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it."

The players we can expect to see in his starting line-up, barring injuries, are those who have delivered the last two Six Nations titles, so youth will have to wait a little longer.

No Lee Byrne

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With the inclusion of several players based in France, Warren Gatland clearly has no issue choosing players playing in the Top 14, despite his previous reservations.

But it is quite surprising that a player of Lee Byrne’s calibre is missing. Byrne, a Test Lion in 2009, is part of a dazzling Clermont Auvergne back division.

With Leigh Halfpenny the main man at No. 15, you wouldn’t expect Byrne to usurp the Cardiff man, but as a back-up to Halfpenny, surely Byrne is the best option?

When Gatland handed the reins to Rob Howley for last year's Six Nations, Byrne was recalled after a two-year absence, but he was omitted in the autumn and has gone on record as believing his international days are over.

That’s despite claims from Lyn Jones, coach of Newport Gwent Dragons—who Byrne has agreed to join in the summer—claiming many still see the former Osprey as the best full-back in the UK.

Davies in Despite Injury

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It was initially thought Lions centre Jonathan Davies would be out of action for the first three rounds of the Six Nations, which makes his selection a bit puzzling.

His presence on the list suggests his recovery might be going better than we have been led to believe.

Should he back to full match fitness after round three and Wales are already purring by then with Scott Williams playing well, Gatland will have a selection poser on his hands—but a nice one at that.

The Return of James Hook

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Despite Perpignan exercising their right to withhold Hook from Wales’ clash with Australia in the autumn, Warren Gatland has brought Hook in from the cold for the Six Nations.

Hook seemed to be out of favour until a superb run of form for the Catalans demanded his recall in November.

He is back again for the championship, but will he get any game time?

Samson Lee Could Be a Problem

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Young tight-head Lee is one of the young players picked by Gatland despite a potential discipline problem.

Lee, who has two caps, was banned for making contact with the face of Danny Care with his boot when the Scarlets met Quins in the Heineken Cup. But as part of the 2012 Welsh Under 20s side that came third in Junior World Cup, he clearly has talent.

Nevertheless, if the ageing Adam Jones begins to creak during the championship, Lee could prove rich pickings for some of the experienced loose-heads he will come up against.

And his temperament will undergo some stiff exams from seasoned pros if he gets some game time.