Wales World Cup Squad - Locks

Second row is still one of Wales' weakest areas. Not many to choose from, but more depth than for the last twenty years at least.

I guess we will take four locks one of whom who is also a back rower. Though may take four locks and a backrow/lock.

Bradley Davies (Blues)

Luke Charteris (Dragons)

Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys)

Ryan Jones (Ospreys)

Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys)

Lou Reed (Scarlets)

I suspect we will have 3 locks and cover from R Jones and J Thomas, I would prefer 4 second rows and R Jones as cover. I would have I Evans as the 4th second row (if fit), he may be in the team by the time the RWC comes around due to injuries.

I dont think Ian Evans has done enough to impress the selectors, but I thought he had some good games this year, its taken him a long time to get fit though, so maybe the RWC is still too early for him.

He is still a young player though.

I thought Lou Reed put in some top performances towards the end of the season and could be surprise choice. I'd imagine Wyn Jones, Davies and Charteris are pretty much shoe-ins and a lot will depend on whether they take Ryan Jones as back-row or second-row (or both).

It's a shame Evans has had so many injuries - he looked like he was gonna be top class before them. Still time for him to get back there if he can stay fit though.

A slight aside - is anyone else fed up with Wales (and the Dragons) using Charteris as a dummy jumper?? I know he's an obvious choice to throw it to but he's 6'10!! Throw him up high enough and surely no-one's gonna compete with him!

I am not sure why coaches choose the dummy over the obvious? Same applies to other set pieces and the back moves

Very conclusive selections there.