Time to get ruthless and for one man the wait is over – Wales talking points
The Welsh will look to keep momentum going following Argentina win.
Wales continue their Autumn Nations Series campaign when they tackle Georgia at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.
Wayne Pivac’s team bounced back from a 55-23 drubbing against New Zealand two weeks ago to defeat Argentina last time out, while Georgia have arrived in Cardiff on the back of a one-point loss to Samoa.
Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the key talking points.
Wales must be ruthless
Josh Macleod – third time lucky
Scarlets forward Josh Macleod will make his Wales debut on Saturday, but he must have wondered whether it would ever happen. Macleod, who starts at number eight, was selected for the 2020 autumn Tests squad before a hamstring injury sidelined him, then he made Wales’ starting line-up against Six Nations opponents Scotland last year, but he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in training later that day. “It is just a pleasure to see him back on the playing field. He is a lovely young guy and he works very, very hard at his game,” Pivac said.
World Cup rehearsals
Dafydd Jenkins – watch this space
If any player is to fit the description of 2023 World Cup selection bolter for Wales, then Exeter lock Jenkins could be that person. At the age of 19, he has already captained English heavyweights Exeter as the youngest skipper in Premiership history, while a place in Wales’ matchday 23 to face Georgia was secured just a day after he joined the squad following injuries suffered by Will Rowlands and Dan Lydiate during victory over Argentina last weekend. At 6ft 7in and almost 18 stone, Bridgend-born Jenkins has every physical attribute required to thrive at Test level.
Georgia need a show of strength
It has been a debate for several seasons now – Georgia or Italy in the Six Nations? The Azzurri’s consistently-wretched Six Nations form regularly sparks debate over promotion and relegation, with Georgia always identified as next cab off the rank. But Italy’s stunning victory over Australia during the Autumn Nations Series, which came just eight months after they defeated Wales in Cardiff, suggests a brighter future, although Georgia toppled the Azzurri earlier this year and only lost by a point to Samoa last weekend. Wales away, though, will be a sizeable step up.
