Wales Rugby: Key Players Set to Revitalise the Team
Image Credit: Marc
Wales have been on a poor run of form recently. At the international level, the team is on a massive losing streak. Warren Gatland's side is going through a rebuilding period right now, and they will look to improve next year. Looking at the game in Wales from a club level, many in-form players didn't get a look in the summer but definitely should in the autumn.
Nicky Smith
Nicky Smith is a fantastic player who has been a consistent presence around the Welsh set-up for many years. However, recently, Gatland has decided to leave the prop out of his squads. Gatland's decision to leave Smith out is puzzling, especially now because Wales seems to lack depth in the front row. Smith was a crucial part of the Ospreys season last year, where Toby Booth's team made it to the play-offs. The 30-year-old is excellent in the scrum and is a class around the park. Smith will move to Leicester Tigers this season, which could help his game because he gets regular playing time in one of the best domestic leagues today. If Smith gets off to a good start in Leicester, there is no reason why he shouldn't be playing in the Principality in autumn.
Theo Cabango
Theo Cabango is an electric winger who plays his club rugby for Cardiff. The 22-year-old has looked very impressive since coming back from a shoulder injury. It looked like he was set to be on the plane to Australia this summer but suffered another injury. Cabango is a great player with a natural nose for the try line; you feel like something will happen whenever he is on the ball. Wales needs some wing depth, and Cabango could provide a real spark for their attack. It will be interesting to see what Cabango could do internationally because he looks like a superstar in the capital.
Dan Edwards
One of their main weaknesses throughout this transitional period for Wales has been at the fly-half position. Sam Costelow has been the most entrusted player with the position. However, Cardiff's Ben Thomas started both games in Australia with the number 10 on his back. Edwards has been putting in many impressive performances for the Ospreys, and he could become a top star for his country. The young fly-half has shown he can consistently perform after an impressive URC campaign last season. Furthermore, his last-minute game-sealing drop goal against Ulster showed that no moment is too big for the rising star. It will be fascinating to see whether he gets a chance in October, as the autumn is typically a time to experiment with players.
It is safe to say that Wales has enough quality to improve their abysmal current form; it all depends on who Gatland will choose.
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