The Battle for Number 10
Scarlets fly-half Rhys Priestland has been viewed by many as the future number 10 for his region and for Wales after he forced his way into the national side's starting XV ahead of Wales' record cap holder Stephen Jones last year.
Priestland made his Wales debut in the 24-6 win against Scotland in the 2011 Six Nations and he was given a lucky break, as a result of Jones' unfortunate injury, in Wales' World Cup campaign. The Scarlets back started in the opening game of the tournament against South Africa and pulled the strings throughout the game but he was unable to help Wales close out the game as they lost 17-16 to the then World Champions. The fly-half was one of many stars in Wales' magnificent World Cup campaign and he went on to score his first international try in the 24-18 defeat to Australia after the World Cup in Shane Williams' farewell match in Cardiff.
At only 25 years of age the Scarlets back could well have many years as Wales' first choice number 10 but at the even younger age of 22, Ospreys fly-half Dan Biggar looks set to push Priestland to his limits and fight for the number 10 shirt.
Biggar had a very impressive season with the Ospreys in 2011/12 and his performance in the 31-30 win over Leinster made the rugby world take note as the region took the Pro12 title from the Heineken Cup champions at the RDS.
Shane Williams stole the show in that game after scoring two tries on his final match for the Ospreys but the 22 year old kicked 16 of the region's 31 points, including a late conversion from a very tight angle to seal the win.
Biggar is the youngest player to play 100 games for the Ospreys which at only 22 years of age is some achievement but his international career has stalled of late, largely because of the talents of Priestland, Jones and James Hook.
He made his international debut in a 34-13 win against Canada at the Millennium Stadium back in 2008 and he has since amassed a total of 10 caps for Wales with the last of those caps coming in the 30-21 win over the Barbarians in Martyn Williams' farewell match in Cardiff. He was named in the starting XV for that game but he was replaced in the second half of the match after he picked up a shoulder injury. He was one of five players dropped by Rob Howley for Wales' tour of Australia as a result of the injury and will now have to wait for the new season to get himself back into contention for a starting place in Warren Gatland's side.
It would seem that, for the time being at least, Rhys Priestland will hold the fly-half position in the Wales side ahead of Dan Biggar but the competition for places in the position, especially when you bring the more experienced James Hook into the equation, will provide Warren Gatland and co. with a welcome selection headache ahead of the autumn internationals.
Who do you think should be Wales' first choice number 10? Get in touch and let us know.
