I'm liking that team you've picked their mate but its theres a worrying lack of Dragons players in the squad and Gatland needs to start addressing that. As arguably the most attacking and exciting Welsh team at the moment I think there should be a few more Dragons players involved in the Welsh set-up and what better opportunity than against the Barbarians:
Jason Tovey - Definitely needs to be given a chance, Gatland gave Biggar a chance and I personally don't think he evr should have been given the chance for Wales as I find him too cocky and I don't think he can always back it up on the field (though he has improved and looked better in this half of the season). But my point is Tovey imo is better. His versatility (as he is able to play fullback and in the centre) is also a plus point and I think his performances do justify a call-up.
Aled Brew - The most in-form welsh winger around as it stands, he is solid and hell of a unit but also has good pace and a real handful to deal with. Previously his handling and finishing hasn't been up to the required level but he is looking a hell of a player now and the fact that hes scored 16 tries this season shows he is playing well. the try he scored against the Ospreys 2 weeks or so ago when he left Hook for dead really sums him up as a player, fantastic try and potentially brilliant player. At 26 he is still relatively young and has a future in the Welsh jersey.
Ashley Smith - I've been arguing my case on the forums here for Ashley Smith for well over a year now and everyone says hes too young/too inexperienced etc etc. I think now its time to give him a chance as he is a great player and I think he could be a great player at national level.
Toby Faletau - Probably the most deserving out of anyone, he has been the stand out number 8 in Wales this season, with several MOTM performances. He is strong and exciting in attack and his defence is excellent also. Very unlucky not to have been capped in the Six Nations when he was injured but I think we should cap him before Tonga beat us to it!
Luke Charteris (as you mentioned) - Nothing spectacular this season but does his job well and has plodded along nicely in the Magners without attracting too much attention. Worth a shot as mentioned.
I could mention several more Dragons players but I would just come across as being really bias but I honestly think that the players mentioned above should be thrown into the selection mix for the Barbarians match as well as the friendlies before the World Cup.
I certainly agree with what you are saying. The Dragons have really upped their game, and aren't many players away from being a real force next season (although strength in depth is always an issue for them). They're playing a great brand of rugby which is really allowing them to show their skill.
Of the player you mentioned, here's my personal take on them:
Tovey - had a bit of a dip of form midway through the season, but he's been superb recently. His attacking game is excellent. He has his weaknesses, namely in defensy (although I've not seen much evidence of that recently), and his goal kicking which can be sporadic at best and downright poor on occasion. However if one of Hook or Halfpenny are in the starting IV then he doesn't necessarily have to have the kicking duties. Certainly a better option than Biggar, and I think most people have known that for quite a while. For me it's between him, Robinson and Priestland, and all have similar strengths and weaknesses.
Brew - certainly deserves another chance ahead of the likes of Czekaj, Tom James etc.Whilst he wasn't great in his last outing for Wales, he wasn't terrible either, and didn't really have much of a chance to show what he's capable of. Again he has his weaknesses, but his strengths more than make up for that. He's always been a fovourite of mine due to the commitment he shows in every game he plays. He just needs to make the step-up to international level, something he's never quite managed in the past, but at just 26, he's got time to do so.
Smith - I'm not sure about this one. Ashley Smith is a decent enough player, but he's never really left me thinking wow in the same way Hook, Henson, Roberts and Davies have on occasion. He's a solid player in the Shanklin and Bishop mould, which isn't a bad thing really. With the lack of on-form centres at the moment, he's certainly in the running, but that possibly shows the lack of depth we currently have there, instead of him really earning the right through a consisten run of good games. Too close to the WC to start looking at an un-capped player like Smith who hasn't really been a stand-out player in many games recently imo.
Faletau - yes, yes and yes again. He's just getting better and better. Awesome player in just about every way. Reminds me of Parisse in the way he's equally adept and carrying ball and making it over the gainline and running in open field, making breaks and putting people in space. Great cover tackler aswell. Gotta admit, I'm also excited to see a backrow of Lydiate, Warburton and Faletau (with Ben Morgan joining the mix after the WC). Inexperiences, yes. Great potential, certainly!
Charteris - He's still not playing to his potential since injury. Very quiet in most of the games I've seen him play recently. However second-row is another position where were short of propper in-form players at the moment. Alun-Wyn and Bradley are first choice, but behind them we've got Charteris and Ian Evans, both struggling for form after long injury layoffs, Gough who's maybe past his best at international level, and two backrowers come locks come backrowers. I honestly don't know who's the best option.
You don't come acorss as being biased atall. All those mentioned are certainly in the mix, and I'd add Adam Hughes and Wayne Evans to the list aswell.
