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Eddie James missed the autumn through injury, but could feature in the Six Nations
Wales’ last victory in the Six Nations feels an awfully long time ago.
Granted, it has been just over 1,000 days since Wales went to Rome with a young centre partnership of Joe Hawkins and Mason Grady in March 2023. That would be the second time that centre pairing would start together for Wales and, so far, the last.
Someone pointed out that, despite seemingly being the centre partnership of the future, on Friday night at the Arms Park, one was wearing 10 on his back while the other had 11 on his jersey.
Of course, Hawkins – despite deputising at fly-half for the Scarlets recently – did end the autumn with the Welsh 12 jersey in his possession.
Having missed out on two years of Test rugby due to the 25-cap rule, Hawkins is now available again and looks to be Wales’ best option at inside centre moving forward.
Who partners him is a difficult one to answer, though.
To say Wales have struggled for consistency in midfield in recent years is an understatement. There have been a dozen centre pairings since that last Six Nations victory over Italy.
Hawkins and Max Llewellyn was the last one, but it seems likely the Gloucester centre will miss the Six Nations through injury.
Grady, meanwhile, is just back from injury – with wing seemingly his preferred position on the comeback trail.
Then there are the likes of Owen Watkin, Nick Tompkins, Joe Roberts and Johnny Williams all capable of playing there.
But, on Friday night, one young man put forward a solid case for his own midfield prospects.
Eddie James, wearing the 13 jersey for the Scarlets in their win over Cardiff, has long been tipped for a Test future – given his size and physicality.
The 23-year-old made his Test debut last year, before earning his first start at inside centre in this year’s Six Nations trip to Rome.
That was Warren Gatland’s last game in charge, with a change in coaching staff bringing a new ideal for the midfield.
A desire for a playmaker has seen Ben Thomas and Hawkins wear the 12 jersey, but regardless of what number he has on his back, Friday showed James, who missed the autumn through injury, could become a key part of Steve Tandy’s plans soon enough.
Beyond being put through a gap by Hawkins for the Scarlets’ first try, James was aggressive and physical in defence – with some solid reads from the 13 channel.
Another tackle completely blindsided opposite number Harri Millard. There’s a Test player in there, as Scarlets assistant coach Albert van der Berg noted afterwards – even likening him to a World Cup-winning Springbok.
“I compare him to Andre Esterhuizen,” said van der Berg. “I was at the Sharks when Andre came through the ranks.
“He was this young boy coming through, just like Eddie is now. He’s got the size, he’s got everything. He needs a bit of time.
“As he gets more experience, I think he’s going to play for Wales for many years. He’s a really good player.”
The vast majority of James’ senior rugby has come at inside centre, but Friday marked a departure from that.
Given what Wales want in an inside centre, 13 could bring his best chance of Test caps, too.
However, van den Berg isn’t concerned about where he ends up playing in midfield.
“I think he can play both,” added the Scarlets coach. “He’s got speed as well.
“He’s a big boy who can offload too. I think he can do both positions.”
Twelve or 13, then, it doesn’t seem to matter. If you continue the comparisons with Esterhuizen, who did a job in the back-row for South Africa in the autumn, then maybe James could pop up in the pack one day.
“I would love that,” joked van den Berg. “That might be on the cards for us.”
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