How the Welsh rugby team will look under Wayne Pivac and the players who might be retiring

We now know that the end of next year 's World Cup in Japan will mark the beginning of the Wayne Pivac era with Wales.

14 months before Warren Gatland and his players head to the Far East, his national team looks in top form.

The recent tour of the Americas has shown that there is competition in all areas

. Can Pivac hope to inherit it?

How many 2017 Lions in Gatland will still be in pole position? How many rising stars will have established themselves as international regulars? And who could actually withdraw from the international game.

Rob Lloyd tries to predict what awaits Pivac in the autumn of 2019.

Back-three

Leigh Halfpenny is a long-time member of Gatland's starting line-up, winning the first of his 78 selections from Wales ten years ago years. 19659002] But during the last season, the pressure is mounting on the winner of the Lions 2013.

He remains one of the best scorers of international rugby and Gatland has described the old Toulon as the # 1 39, one of the best defenders. and the positional backs in the game.

But the back of the Scarlets will be 30 years old at the end of next year and with players such as Hallam Amos, Josh Adams and Steff Evans emerging as powerful Offensive weapons and Pivac attack threat of depth, Halfpen ny could find himself scratching to keep his jersey.

Liam Williams will be 28 years old at next year 's tournament and will have a run of 15, while George North is only 26 years old and still has a lot of international trials under his belt. ] The former Scarlets driver, Johnny McNicholl, will also be Welsh qualified by here, though he signs a new contract after next season to stay in Wales.

Centers

Jonathan Davies established himself as one of the best centers on the planet during the Lions series of Last year against the All Blacks and back to full fitness, it will be an integral part of Gatland Japan.

Davies will be 31 next April, but there are not many better readers of the match in the No. 13 jersey and Pivac will want him as the glue in his backline.

Scott Williams still has time for him, while Owen Watkin is a player A bright future in the arena of the test

Although new on the international scene, Hadleigh Parkes will be 32 years old when Pivac will take the reins. With Watkin, the new coach could do with a couple of young centers that pierce

Fly-half

Pivac made No secret that he is a big fan of Rhys Patchell pulling the strings at 10.

Patchell has thrived in the pivotal position since his move to the west of Arms Park, narrowing his game under the eye attentive Stephen Jones. [19659002WhydoeshereportDanBiggarwhichisthe10thestCountryofWalessincethelastWorldCup?

Biggar, with 62 selections, is not captured by the new WRU selection policy. He has already hinted that he could count against him.

The Saints have also been far removed from Pivac's free philosophy in recent years, unless new coach Chris Boyd can not shed a bit of Hurricane dust at Franklin. Gardens.

Pivac will also be well aware of the qualities of Gareth Anscombe Sam Davies – who hopes to emerge from Biggar's shadow at the Liberty – and Jarrod Evans will be determined to impress the new man.

Scrum-half

There does not seem to be a return for Auckland. Rhys Webb, who will turn 30 in the South of France at the World Cup jamboree

This leaves Gareth Davies, Aled Davies, Tomos Williams and potentially Rhodri Williams as contenders for Pivac's scrum half.

Scarlets No. 9 Davies is currently leading the pack, but there is not much to choose between the two.

Front row

Gatland has a relatively young group of rowers at his disposal before heading to the Far East. Rob Evans, Nicky Smith, Samson Lee, Tomas Francis, Dillon Lewis, Elliot Dee and Ryan Elias are expected to be part of Pivac's future planning.

The top hooker Ken Owens is by far the most experienced member of the front … row union and will have 32 in January.

It is unlikely that he will go to France in 2023, but Owens was the trusted head of Pivac at Scarlets and he will surely want it in his early years in charge

Second Row

Alum Wyn Jones has long defied Father Time, so it would be stupid to start writing his opinion of retirement.

But when Wales returns from Japan in the fall, the talisman of the Ospreys will be 34 years old.

Will the World Cup be its swan of the international arena? Only Jones knows it, but Pivac will be aware that he has to plan for life without a player who will be one of the best strikers in Wales.

Cory Hill has shown his leadership qualities on tour this summer and will be a natural successor, while Pivac will have been encouraged by the emergence of Adam Beard in Argentina. Jake Ball and the experienced Bradley Davies will add to the second-row pool

Behind the Line

One thing is certain, Pivac will inherit from # 39; a similar back line

Regardless of the appearance of the hierarchy in Japan, you can guarantee that it will have a glut of high-caliber open-outs at its first camp. 39, drive to Vale Resort.

Sam Warburton

Warburton's injury problems are well documented and he had a sabbatical year to press the refresh button in preparation for the World Cup.

The Lions captain will be close to 31 at the time Justin Tipuric and his long-time rival Justin Tipuric, as well as Ellis Jenkins, James Davies, Josh Navidi, Ollie Griffiths and Thomas Young in the process of hit him on the heels.

He has already admitted that he could walk away from the international scene after 2019. However, when we consider All Black Kieran Read and Duane Vermeulen of South Africa – who has been outstanding in the series Boks against England last month – both are 32 years old, Warburton will argue that if his body holds he will still have a lot to offer.

You might think Taulupe Faletau will have at least one more World Cup in him, Ross Moriarty will be in the game, but Aaron Shingler, an influential leader of the Pivac Scarlets camp, will be 32 years old when his regional coach takes the reins National