Sam Davies should not be kept waiting for his chance to become Wales’ next No.10, according to Phil Bennett.
Ospreys fly-half Davies is set to be named in coach Rob Howley’s squad for the November Tests, due to be announced on Tuesday lunchtime.
The uncapped 23-year-old has had an impressive start to the season for his region and is likely to replace Bath’s Rhys Priestland in a 35-man group for the matches against Australia, Argentina, Japan and South Africa.
Former Lions and Wales legend Bennett would like to see Davies – who has been alternated with Dan Biggar as first choice for the Ospreys in the opening weeks – given his chance as early as the second match of the series.
Bennett says: “The change in the relative pecking order has been recognised this season by Ospreys coach Steve Tandy. Both outside-halves have been given starts for the big games and it’s no longer the case that Sam is just the understudy.
“The only thing Sam lacks is international experience and next month is the time for Howley to put that right.
“I am not saying that Sam should start in the first match against Australia. But I would certainly have him on the bench ahead of Gareth Anscombe and I’d want to give Sam the nod to start the second game against Argentina.
“Sam is now 23. He’s not a kid any more and we need to know how he can influence this Wales team, whether his running game, his off-loads, his variety of passing – all of which have been outstanding this season – give more to the team than Dan’s attributes.
“Those Biggar strengths are considerable – his control, his defence, his kicking game, his incredible catching – but they are different.
“Beauden Barrett has come into the New Zealand side and not only filled the gap left by Dan Carter, but enhanced the attacking threat of the All Blacks.
“Maybe Sam can do the same for Wales, but we – and Howley – won’t know until we put him out there, testing him against opponents who will want to knock his head off.”
Wales will need reinforcements for the first match against Australia on 5 November. The England-based players – like Priestland – will not be released by Premiership Rugby for the game with the Wallabies because it falls outside the official international window.
It means George North, Jamie Roberts, Luke Charteris, Taulupe Faletau, who would probably not have been involved anyway as he recovers from a knee injury, Ross Moriarty and Priestland will not be available for interim head coach Howley’s first match since Warren Gatland started his sabbatical to focus on the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.
Premiership Rugby’s policy, which was agreed unanimously by the 12 clubs, is that non-England internationals are not released for Tests outside the official window under any circumstances. England have access to their players for fourth internationals as part of the £200m agreement with the clubs.
Better news for Howley was that his captain, Sam Warburton, who this month had surgery on a fractured cheekbone, is in line to return for Cardiff Blues on Friday against Pau in the European Challenge Cup.
Blues coach Danny Wilson said: “At the moment we are on track with Warby but we will see how he responds to training at the start of the week and go from there.
“He has made good progress, he’s itching to get back out there and there might be an opportunity for him if he passes all the tests he needs to.”
