Age 28 (20.10.90) Position Hooker
His first 19 caps came off the bench,
but he’s blossomed technically and
as a leader since winning the hooker’s
berth for the 2017 Lions. Solid in the
set-piece, his work around the field is
sensational – he gave a 20m scoring
miss-pass off his left hand v Italy!Age 31 (5.5.88) Position Full-back
Nicknamed ‘Spider’ due to his elusive
running style, he’s been spectacularly
proficient for the past four years and it’s
scandalous he’s won just two caps in
that time. Ruthless at exploiting fractured
defences, his distribution and kicking are
good enough to play Test rugby as a ten.
Downtime: P 14 - 15Age 26 (24.6.92) Position Full-back
Hogg’s matured hugely as a player,
his game as much about creating as
scoring these days. An electrifying
runner, his skill-set includes booming
spiral punts and pinpoint grubber
kicks. “He can do everything, he’s an
incredible talent,” says Chris Paterson.19
JONATHAN
DAVIES
18 JAMIE GEORGE 17 ALEX GOODE 16 STUART HOGG
37 21 67
73100 Best PlayersAge 31 (5 April 1988) Position Centre
S
ATURDAY 16 March 2019 is
a significant date for Davies.
Not only did he help Wales
beat Ireland 25-7 to clinch
a Six Nations Grand Slam, but his horse
won the Midlands Grand National!
An hour after Potters Corner, the
gelding he part owns, crossed the
line ahead of the rest at Uttoxeter that
Saturday afternoon, Davies was jumping
with delight as the final whistle blasted
in Cardiff. He was then memorably
caught on camera telling Alun Wyn
Jones: “Thank you, mate. I love you.”
It’s the latest in a long line of
achievements for the 31-year-old – two
Grand Slams and three championship
titles, six successive Test starts for the
Lions in 2013 and 2017, Lions’ Man of
the Series in New Zealand, a Guinness
Pro12 title with the Scarlets in 2017...
He captained Wales for the first time in
Italy this year and of his 73 Wales caps,
only three are as a replacement, with the
last of those in 2011. If he’s fit, he starts.
He’s always defended the 13 channel
expertly and has formed even more of
a midfield brick wall for the Scarlets and
Wales with Hadleigh Parkes. He offers an
additional kicking option and his running
game shouldn’t be underestimated.
Davies is a vital piece in the jigsaw
that has taken Wales to second in the
world rankings – now for the home
stretch as they target World Cup glory.