Wales Debut for Gloucester Star Hathaway as Gatland Looks to Avoid Another Feyi-Waboso Saga
When Cardiff-born Immanuel Feyi-Waboso chose to play for England over Wales at the start of the year, Wales head coach Warren Gatland downplayed the significance of the Exeter wing’s decision. However, Feyi-Waboso’s standout performances at both club and international level have since shown him to be a major loss for the Welsh national team.
Sensing the need to act quickly to prevent a similar scenario, Gatland has moved swiftly to ensure 20-year-old Gloucester back Josh Hathaway, who was eligible for both England and Wales, will make his international debut for the Welsh side against Australia in Sydney on Saturday.
“To get him in a red jersey is probably something we really wanted to do,” Gatland told reporters in Australia, acknowledging the importance of securing Hathaway’s services for Wales.
Hathaway, who has represented both countries at the Under-20 level, will now be tied to the Welsh national team, where he was born. The young prospect has enjoyed a breakout season with Gloucester and has impressed the Wales management during the summer training camp.
“He’s just trained really well,” Gatland said of Hathaway, who will become the 1,207th player to represent Wales. “For us, it’s about, in some positions, creating a bit more strength. He gets an opportunity, with moving Liam Williams back to full-back and keeping some experience on the field.”
Hathaway’s parents will be in Sydney to witness his senior international debut, a dream that has been a lifelong goal for both the player and his father, Darren.
Gatland has selected an intriguing lineup for the clash with the Wallabies, with Cardiff’s Ben Thomas starting at fly-half for only his third Test cap. The decision to pick Thomas, who is more accustomed to playing at inside centre for his club, ahead of the more experienced Sam Costelow is a surprise.
With the retirement of Dan Biggar and the unavailability of Gareth Anscombe, the Wales No. 10 jersey remains up for grabs, and Gatland is keen to assess the options at his disposal.
The Wales-Australia series may not be the headline fixture of the summer, but both teams are looking to bounce back from difficult periods. Wales have lost their last seven matches, while the Wallabies are seeking to recover from a disastrous World Cup campaign under the guidance of new head coach Joe Schmidt.
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