Why Warren Gatland and Wales are already winners this summer

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  • Warren Gatland

    Warren Gatland heads into Wales’ final game against Argentina in an enviable position.

    Barring a humiliation in Santa Fe, this summer tour can already be deemed a success for the men in red.

    Building on the back of a promising Six Nations, wins to date against an albeit depleted South Africa side, and a solid Argentina team, have shown Gatland an almost unknown squad-depth a little over a year out from the World Cup.

    After seeing the names listed for the touring party, few Welshmen would have carried much hope going into the controversial one-off fixture with South Africa in Washington, or the two-game series in South America against an Argentina side buoyed by the scintillating form of the Jaguares in Super Rugby.

    Shorn of the talents of the influential Alun Wyn Jones, No.8 Taulupe Faletau, Liam Williams and Leigh Halfpenny to name a few, Wales have been able to blood youth and hand out some vital game-time with the 2019 showpiece looming.

    Leadership has been another key element for development on the tour. More than a few eyebrows were raised when Cory Hill and Ellis Jenkins were handed joint captaincy ahead of the tour, but it is an inspired choice from Gatland.

    Hill is establishing himself as a regular member of the second row alongside Wyn Jones, and is the likely heir to the throne when it comes to the leadership role in that engine room when the Swansea man hangs up his boots.

    He has already shown his improvement as a player with superb handling and running with ball-in-hand highlighting his Six Nations campaign. Leadership, it a skill generally learned through experience and his skippering of the side in last week’s win over the Puma’s is a terrific start.

    It’s a slightly different deal for Jenkins, who is one name in a hugely competitive battle for back-row slots. However, while the likes of James Davies, Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric and Sam Warburton would all lay claim to the jersey, there is a real sense Jenkins is being groomed for the long-term captaincy – and with it that open-side jersey.

    With added depth and competition will come difficult decisions for Gatland, but it will be a nice headache as he sculpts a side that can shine in Japan.

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