Shane Williams: I would pick Tom James ahead of Alex Cuthbert
Dan Evans has been in great form again so far this season but that is nothing new.
The full-back has been among the Ospreys most consistent players for a few years now and is so highly rated by Steve Tandy.
But it really does look like that appreciation is not shared by the Wales management and I fear his hopes of adding to the two caps he won back in 2009 could be doomed. I’m sure by now, Dan has got used to it.
But I really feel for Cardiff Blues wing Tom James because he has done everything that has been asked of him and not only has he missed out – again – but to his club-mate Alex Cuthbert who is selected more on reputation than form.
Tom was told to work on his game and he has done that. He has matured, looks more settled, is hungry to get involved and get his hands on the ball as much as he can and is scoring tries. Yet after all that, he is still on the outskirts of the squad. He has every right to feel hard done by at having the rug swept from under his feet while Alex walks back in.
Don’t get me wrong, Alex has been a match-winner for both Wales and the British Lions but it appears he has been picked on reputation and the possibility of what he can do, rather than on current form.
He has struggled for a while and has suffered injuries that have affected his confidence – but Rob Howley has given him the benefit of the doubt and hopefully he is on his way back because he can be a genuine threat to any defence.
Sometimes it’s worth taking a gamble and I think Tom would have been worth it – but I am glad Howley has not taken a risk with Keelan Giles.
I love the way this young lad plays and wants to take players on every time he touches the ball. I am convinced that it will not be long before he becomes a Wales international but this autumn is too soon.
There were calls for him to get the nod but you have to be careful with such young guys. Test rugby is another world compared to club or regional level and throwing young men into that limelight can make or break them.
We’ve seen in the past players like Tom Prydie and Kristian Phillips really struggle to live up to the hype that comes with breaking into the international team at a young age.
I played with Tom at the Ospreys and Wales and he was such a prospect that I completely understood why Warren Gatland wanted to take a punt on him.
But it’s a lot of pressure on very young shoulders and we have struggled to see anything near the best of either Tom or Kristian ever since.
On the other hand, you have someone like George North who had barely played for the Scarlets but is thrown in against South Africa, scores two tries on his debut and has never looked back.
I would hope that is what will happen for Ospreys young fly-half Sam Davies. It is important now that he gets some game time this autumn.
As a No.10, the only way to learn is on the pitch, not holding tackle bags.
