Wales Name 2015 Six Nations Squad: Full List, Analysis and Reaction
Wales coach Warren Gatland has included four uncapped players in his 34-man squad for the upcoming Six Nations, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has confirmed.
Fly-half Gareth Anscombe, hooker Kristian Dacey, prop Rob Evans and centre Tyler Morgan have been selected for the tournament. There are also places for Scott Andrews and Gareth Davies, who missed the Autumn Internationals.
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But James Hook and Adam Jones are among the players to have been left out. Hook has been overlooked in favour of the Cardiff Blues’ Anscombe.
The four uncapped players have been welcomed into the squad on Twitter by captain Sam Warburton and Jamie Roberts.
Wales will open their Six Nations campaign at home to England on Friday, Feb. 6 before away games with Scotland and France. Ireland will then visit the Millennium Stadium before the competition finishes away to Italy on Saturday, Mar. 21. Here is their full schedule, per the WRU’s official website.
Gatland is happy to have added some younger faces to his squad, with Wales also preparing for the World Cup later in the year. He told the WRU’s official website:
"It’s great to be able to name such an experienced squad that also boasts some exciting young talent. The four uncapped players have all been going well for their respective regions and it will be good to see them in this environment and we hope they take the opportunity. They come into a squad packed with experience and that experience will be important to us over the next eight weeks and the year as a whole.
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There are plenty of established names in the Wales squad for the Six Nations and we take a look at three who could have a big say in the tournament.
Dan Biggar
After being in and out of the Wales team since making his international debut in 2008, there is now a feeling that Biggar has established himself as the starting fly-half.
Rhys Priestland remains strong competition for the No.10 shirt, but Biggar’s impressive performances in the Autumn Internationals have staked his claim for a permanent role.
Former Wales captain Gwyn Jones was certainly impressed, writing in WalesOnline: “He would be on a Lions trip if there were a tour next month and has taken himself from a solid international player to one that’s knocking on world class.”
Biggar started all five games in the 2013 Six Nations due to an injury to Priestland, but started just once in 2014. This year, he will be starting on merit.
George North
It’s worth remembering that the Wales winger is still only 22. It may seem like North has been around forever, but arguably his best days are still in front of him. That is why it is fair to expect the occasional dip in form.
He certainly struggled for form during the Autumn Internationals. His only try came against Fiji as he failed to make much of an impression against Australia and New Zealand. He then missed the win over South Africa through injury.
His inconsistency has perhaps been emphasised by his form for Northampton Saints this season. Though he has scored 11 tries in 14 appearances, per the club’s official website, seven of those tries came in two games. He scored a hat-trick against Gloucester in his first game of the season and then four tries against Ospreys in the Champions Cup in October.
Sam Warburton
The irrepressible, and at times seemingly indestructible, Warburton will again captain Wales at the Six Nations.
He will head into the tournament on an international high after leading Wales to their historic win over South Africa in November. The 12-6 success was the first time Wales had beaten South Africa in 15 years and ended a run of 16 straight losses, per the BBC.
One or two fitness concerns have affected Warburton since after shoulder and facial injuries, but he will be raring to go for the start of the Six Nations.
For a man who never used to eat turkey on Christmas Day, per Sion Morgan of WalesOnline, Warburton will be looking to devour his Six Nations opponents.
After winning the Grand Slam in 2012 and then the Six Nations again in 2013, Wales will be desperate to improve upon last year’s third-placed finish.
Gatland has picked a squad overflowing with experience and the knowhow of what it takes to win a Six Nations, and that can only stand them in good stead.
With some promising youngsters thrown into the equation as well, Wales will certainly be in the mix for the title again, especially if they can start with a win over England.
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