Why Jamie Roberts Is the Player Wales Must Put Their 2015 Six Nations Faith in

Wales head coach Warren Gatland will lean heavily on a select few of his stars to engineer any hope of attaining 2015 Six Nations glory, but Jamie Roberts is the talisman capable of getting the job done.

Sam Warburton may don the proverbial captain's armband, but it's Racing Metro's Roberts who must be looked upon as the key weapon if the Welsh are to realise their potential in this year's tournament.

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The centre has been nothing short of terrific of late. Form permitting, Roberts is counted among the best players in the world in his position, and thankfully for Gatland, the form fortune is currently running hugely in his favour.

Getting Roberts into the Wales team free of injury and alongside his best back-line partners has at times been a struggle in recent years, but Premiership Rugby's Paul Morgan suggests there's no player in Europe currently playing better rugby:

Based on the 28-year-old's recent performance in the 32-8 win over Northampton Saints in the European Rugby Champions Cup, one would be inclined to agree.

Roberts was at the core of a victory which helped Racing claim priority qualification for the competition's quarter-finals, with Charlie Morgan of Rugby World picking out a particularly bright moment of his man-of-the-match display:

That outing was but a single demonstration of the power he possesses as a splendidly rounded midfield talent. At times, Roberts has been looked upon as a brute, little more than a battering ram, but here was a testament to his technical nous.

Jonathan Davies is a similarly pivotal player for Gatland, but the Clermont Auvergne asset benefits more from having a presence of Roberts' talent inside him than vice versa.

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That is to say Roberts could line up with Scott Williams, Cory Allen or even the untested Tyler Morgan and accentuate their talents. It would be more difficult to say the same of Davies doing so for Roberts.

So impressive has Roberts been that the Top 14 talisman is also up for 2014's European Player of the Year, per Simon Thomas of the Western Mail:

Centre is generally quite an intriguing position of discussion among the Six Nations participants at present; England are going through what's becoming an annual dilemma of who to pick and Joe Schmidt is looking to move on from Brian O'Driscoll's retirement.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre is also in the process of constructing his best lineup with Mathieu Bastareaud severely out of form. Rugby World's Paul Williams says England may have little hope of restraining Roberts in the shape he's currently in:

And that's an extreme advantage for Gatland, as well as an indication of just what a terror his No. 12 can be. Other teams will shape their tactics based on how to stop one player in particular, and what's more, Roberts has the potential to overcome such roadblocks.

The depth at centre is perhaps something of a concern for Wales, only further highlighting the importance of seeing to it that Roberts thrives at the Six Nations.

If he and Davies both manage to stay fit throughout, their troubles will be minimised, but Allen and Morgan boast just two caps between them, while Williams isn't the most reliable alternative at inside centre.

The possible emergence of Gareth Anscombe at fly-half is also a transition which could in turn benefit Roberts massively.

The former Chiefs utility back offers a much more forward-thinking, varied approach than the likes of Dan Biggar and Rhys Priestland, promising to only give his inside centre a more open platform from which to launch.

The man most aware of the potential triumph ahead is of course Roberts himself, and the leader figure has shown an encouraging, unified disposition ahead of the tournament beginning, per his official Twitter account:

There is no figure in the Welsh back line with more international experience than Roberts, with only Alun Wyn Jones, Gethin Jenkins and Mike Phillips boasting more caps overall.

The centre has been present for some important days in Wales' recent history and he speaks fondly of the 30-3 thrashing recorded against England two years ago, per Alex Bywater of Wales Online: 

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Wales against England always whets the appetite and for anyone who enjoys rugby, it’s one of the highlights of the calendar,” said giant centre Roberts, a key figure to Gatland’s game plan.

To be involved in a Wales England game is something very special. I remember fondly the 2013 result when England came to Cardiff looking for a Grand Slam. We were magnificent that day. For me, it was one of the most special days Cardiff has seen in ages. This year is no different.

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This is very likely the best Roberts we have seen in all his 10 years of professional rugby and, while Gatland may not hope it's true, perhaps the best we're ever likely to see.

It's for that reason the Welsh must run with their strengths and capitalise upon those most promising factors in their squad at present. Even at his worst, Roberts can be of great use in all areas, but considering the peak he's enjoying right now, it would be folly not to orchestrate their plans around him.