Jiffy column: Six Wales players impress me – now I’d pick our unseen new star

Wales legend and S4C broadcaster Jonathan Davies gives his thoughts on Wales’ defeat to Scotland and final matches of the Six Nations

Last weekend’s clash with Scotland may have resulted in a narrow defeat but it was a much better performance by Wales.

They showed commitment, were physical in their approach and the set-piece went well on the whole. There were some good performances from James Botham, Dewi Lake, Eddie James, Aaron Wainwright, Dafydd Jenkins and Sam Costelow.

The crowd got behind the players and they both fed off each other. Looking back, it was a game Wales should have won and I feel there were some harsh refereeing decisions which went against them.

I thought the croc roll decision on Tomos Williams was very harsh and that was a huge momentum swing in Scotland’s favour.

Joe Hawkins’ yellow card could just as easily have been a red but Gregor Brown was falling due to Costelow tackling him so I think the referee got that one right.

Defenders have to be lower and the players’ health has to be the main priority. Sometimes I feel referees are too quick to get the cards out but on this occasion I think the correct decision was reached.

The other one was Louis Rees-Zammit. I don’t think he was on the floor when he got pinged for that penalty and also Scotland’s final try shouldn’t have stood.

Matt Fagerson clearly entered the maul illegally by swimming up in front of the ball carrier.

You suddenly take a step back and think: those are four crucial points that I thought the referee didn’t get right.

But we were also guilty of switching off when Darcy Graham scored from the restart. You simply cannot afford to switch off like that at international level. When you have 15 of your own players in your half and zero Scots, Wales should have prevented that try from being scored.

To be fair Scotland did look the more threatening side in the second half, but overall, I felt this was a game that Wales lost rather than Scotland won.

But Finn Russell marshalled Scotland brilliantly throughout the game.

Hopefully, they can build on this performance in Dublin but it will be very difficult because Ireland have regained form and were outstanding against England.

It is crucial we slow down the speed of their ruck ball because that killed England last weekend. James Botham had a very good game for Wales and might be a good option to start.

I would consider changing the midfield. Personally I don’t think a ball playing 12 like Joe Hawkins or Ben Thomas has worked for Wales just because they haven’t won the gainline.

I’d like to see Eddie James start at 12 because he is such a powerful carrier and can get us over the gainline.

In the long-run I think a centre partnership of James at 12 and Louie Hennessey at 13 could be the best way to go.

Hennessey is an excellent running threat with explosive pace and an excellent offloading game.

I’d probably put Hennessey on the bench in Dublin and select James and Owen Watkin to start.

But looking ahead to the Italy game I’d be tempted to start Hennessey.

We need to find some more creativity in midfield and our first phase of defence also needs to be better because Scotland cut us open on a few occasions and arguably should have scored more tries against us.

Despite a much-improved performance against Scotland we didn’t really create much behind the scrum in the second-half. If you put James at 12 and Hennessey at 13 with Louis Rees-Zammit in the back-three that is a very threatening back-line, especially with Sam Costelow pulling the strings at outside-half.

I really hope Costelow is fit to start against Ireland because he is the best attacking 10 Wales has, but if he is out I’d start Dan Edwards and keep Jarrod Evans on the bench.

It is hard to see Wales winning in Dublin but it is important they put in a good performance with a view to beating Italy the following week.

Italy have improved significantly and will be a tough nut to crack but if Wales can replicate the performance they put in against Scotland then they stand a decent chance of finishing the Six Nations with a win.

The Jonathan show airs at 9pm on Thursday night on S4C. Join Jonathan, Nigel, Sarra and Lloyd for another fun-filled programme as they welcome their guests James Williams a Kiri Pritchard-Mclean to the studio.