Ospreys win points to happier New Year
SHANE WILLIAMS
WALES AND LIONS LEGEND
Christmas certainly has come early in Welsh rugby. Firstly, Warren Gatland rides in on Santa's sleigh and then the regions finally start firing in Europe. But will it be a happy New Year?
Seeing the Ospreys build on their magnificent Heineken Champions Cup win in Montpellier would be the perfect start. As would getting both Cardiff and Scarlets through to the last 16 in the Challenge Cup.
Ospreys skipper Justin Tipuric was spot on when he said the defeat of the French champions needed to be their benchmark. It was a great performance, one of the best in Ospreys history, but it has to be a launchpad for even more.
Hats off to Toby Booth for the way in which he has brought through so many youngsters. We're talking about an Ospreys win for the ages and not mentioning Alun Wyn Jones, George North, Gareth Anscombe, Dewi Lake or Dan Lydiate. Instead, all the praise is being heaped on Morgan Morris, Rhys Davies, Kieran Williams, Max Nagy and Huw Sutton.
The older bones are being challenged by a younger breed. These players have earned their spurs over the last few tough seasons and now look ready to make major contributions. The challenge for Tips and Co is to go to back up their first win in France in the top tier since 2008 with a double when Montpellier visit Swansea. Then they can head to Welford Road in Round 4 to tackle the Tigers with all to play for.
Before then there will be the not to be missed regional derbies. Scarlets head to the Swansea. Com Stadium for the battle for bragging rights in west Wales. I used love playing over Christmas – it always got the juices flowing and brought out the best in some, and the worst in others!
I always used to get pelters at Stradey Park and Parc Y Scarlets. The more they laughed and shouted at me, the more I smiled and laughed back. I remember scoring two tries in Llanelli one Christmas and heading home feeling very pleased with myself.
I'm sure it has always been the same for any game involving any team from Newport and Cardiff. This year, though, there will be something extra at stake – the chance to impress Gatland. He may be playing catch-up on who is who in the four regions, but he'll be loving the chance to see his best options going head to head. In effect, the festive fixtures have been turned into international trials.
“There is a team good enough within the regions and beyond to challenge in the Six Nations”
So, what will Gats be hoping for in his Christmas stocking? First and foremost, favourable medical reports on Will Rowlands, Wyn Jones, Gareth Anscombe and George North.
Then he'll be hoping to see Liam Wiliams, Dewi Lake and Taine Basham getting back into the thick of things. He'll want to run the rule over Thomas Young and Morgan Morris to boost his back row options. And I'm sure he will be looking to see if Ross Moriarty is ready for a return to the international stage, along with his Dragons team-mate Aaron Wainwright.
Can Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas or Kieran Williams force their way into the reckoning for a midfield berth. Joe
Hawkins may have leapfrogged them in the autumn pecking order, but there isn't much strength in depth in that area. Perhaps a pep talk from Gatland can stimulate a reaction and renaissance in the Scarlets midfield duo of Jonathan Davies and
Scott Williams. That applies to scrum-half Gareth Davies. Those three have surely still got a lot to offer given their quality and experience.
Back at the Dragons, Gats will be taking a look at Wales latest speedster on the wing, Rio Dyer, and can see if Ashton Hewitt is ready for further consideration. It all adds up to a Christmas full of crackers. If the quality of the European games continues then the latest Gatland squad will be battle hardened for the arrival in the Welsh capital of the world leading Irish. That's where every player's focus needs to be this Christmas. Winning for their regions is important, but impressing Gatland and doing all they can to make the Welsh squad will help them to do that.
I can't wait to see how it all pans out. There is a team good enough within the regions and beyond – Dan Biggar now at Toulon, Nick Tompkins at Saracens, Tommy Reffell at Leicester and Louis Rees-Zammit at Gloucester – to challenge anyone in the Six Nations. The new coach bounce will come into play and Gatland's record speaks for itself.
We're going to have a feast of rugby over Christmas and I think it could be a very happy new year for Wales!
