Former international referee Nigel Owens would pick two Wales stars in his British and Irish Lions team to face Australia this year.
The retired match official reviewed a forgettable year for Welsh Rugby in 2024 in his latest Wales Online column and while the overall mood is rather negative, he did find some positives from the year that was.
Wales lost all 12 of their Test matches last year with Warren Gatland’s charges collecting the wooden spoon in the Six Nations before losing back-to-back games to the Wallabies in Australia.
A first-ever defeat to Fiji in Cardiff followed in November with the Wallabies notching up a third victory over Wales during the Autumn before Gatland’s men were outplayed by the Springboks.
Positive signs in a dire year
However, it was that defeat to South Africa where Owens was able to find some promising signs as he believes that Wales performed better in the 45-12 loss than they had in other losses in 2024.
“It’s hard to imagine things getting much worse than they have been this year,” he wrote.
“That’s not to say there haven’t been some promising signs. While the autumn was obviously really disappointing, we saw that we do have some quality players in this side that we can build around.”
After the disastrous performances in 2024, pundits haven’t given many Wales stars a chance of making Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions touring squad later this year.
However, if Owens were selecting the teams, he would have two of Gatland’s men in the matchday 23.
“Dewi Lake was fantastic as captain and Jac Morgan showed his class too – if the Lions squad was being picked tomorrow, those would be the first two names on the teamsheet as far as I’m concerned,” he added.
“James Botham was also immense against South Africa, so we certainly have quality there.”
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Wales lacking depth
While he was impressed by the trio’s performances, he did note that there simply isn’t enough depth in Wales.
“It’s our strength in depth that is the problem, it’s just not the same as it was a few seasons ago and so, while it has been said a lot, it is true that this is a rebuilding process,” Owens wrote.
“Obviously people weren’t expecting that to mean going so long without winning a game, but I am hopeful that we can break that run at the Six Nations and kick on from there.
“We were unlucky to go winless at the last Six Nations, there were a couple of decisions that went against us at certain points and, as we all know, that can mean the difference between winning and losing sometimes.
“We will go into the Six Nations as underdogs, but I’m hopeful that we can get a few good results, particularly with some of the experience that’s now back available to Warren Gatland, such as the likes of Josh Adams and Taulupe Faletau. That will help restore some confidence.”
Unfortunately for Gatland, hooker Lake looks set to miss the Six Nations after sustaining a bicep injury.
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/nigel-owens-shock-first-two-names-on-his-british-and-irish-lions-teamsheet
