Sean Lynn is biding his time before announcing his second Six Nations squad.
As I type, there are still 60 days before the start of that competition, but his rivals have been hard at work for some time with their training squads.
He has his eye on two sources of evidence, the Celtic Challenge, which picks up again after a week’s break, and the PWR.
Standards are rising fast in the CC, and Lynn was prepared to bring some of its young stars, such as Alaw Pyrs and Maisie Davies, into the 6N last year. Both have since joined PWR clubs.
Next weekend sees Gwalia Lightning, one shining light in Welsh darkness, at home to Clovers who stand one place above them. Gwalia have enjoyed an unparalleled run of four successive wins, but the Irish may prove too strong again.
More crucially, Brython Thunder take on Edinburgh Rugby at home after achieving their first win in the return natch at the Hive two weeks ago (7-14).
CC fixtures, Round 7:
14 February: Brython v Edinburgh at Parc y Scarlets 12.30 (on YT)
14 February: Gwalia v Clovers at Ystrad Mynach 13.00 (BBC Sport)
15 February: Glasgow v Wolfhounds at Scotstoun 14.00 (YT)
It takes an experienced eye like Lynn’s to judge the precise gap in quality between the CC and the PWR.
He is leaving himself the minimum of time to make his choices, assemble them and set his mark more closely than last year on their style of play.
Welsh voices have expressed concern at the small number of Cymru players winning starting places for their PWR club. But that ignores basic matters like rotation and player welfare.
Last weekend Carys Cox, Hannah Donnavalle, Donna Rose, Keira Bevan and Sisilia Tuipulotu were amongst many starters. Others such as Beth Lewis were on the bench. It’s swings and roundabouts.
One ongoing challenge is to see players at a top club like Gloucester-Hartpury reproduce the same quality in a red shirt.
A hurdle race
It still looks like an uphill battle for Lynn and his future squad. He was given a three-year contract, but I suspect the WRU will be in no mood to seek his early dismissal, should adverse results continue.
He was the obvious (only?) choice for the job, and everyone understands the severity of the task he has taken on.
Here is Wales’ 6 Nations fixture card:
R1 v Scotland HOME
R2 v France HOME
R3 v England AWAY
R4 v Ireland AWAY
R5 v Italy HOME
There is no chance of an easy run for a side that has won two wooden spoons in succession, but this quintet of games does them few favours.
They do start with two home games, the first at the Principality Stadium, but they may win neither. Three at home is a benefit, and a final set-piece against Italy at the Arms Park may prove full of meaning.
Now we await the decisive news. Will Lynn take the chopping block to his old squad or remain loyal?
The likely answer is somewhere in between, but whichever players find favour, time is against them.
