Wales squad shows that Sherratt is prepared to gamble as he bids to end dismal run of results

MATT SHERRATT'S 33-man Wales squad to tour Japan this summer has raised more than a few eyebrows, with a handful of shock inclusions.

- By STEFFAN THOMAS

The Cardiff boss remains as interim head coach of Wales and is seen as a safe pair of hands by the Welsh Rugby Union, but there are a fair few gambles in this squad, with players who Warren Gatland did not deem good enough to be top-end international players called in.

But, as Gatland always maintained, selection is a matter of opinion and Sherratt has decided to hand an opportunity to a number of players.

In total there are six uncapped players in his squad, with exciting Scarlets back Macs Page, Ospreys loosehead Garyn Phillips, Dragons tighthead Chris Coleman, Cardiff captain Liam Belcher, Ospreys wing Keelan Giles and scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams in line to make their Test debuts in Japan.

Wales were always going to be without British & Irish Lions pair Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams but they also have a few players sidelined through injury, with Liam Williams, Owen Watkin, Dafydd Jenkins, Max Llewellyn, Josh Hathaway and Mason Grady out.

But Sherratt has looked to put his own stamp on the squad, with 16 players who were absent from Gatland's initial Six Nations squad included.

A coach involved in the game messaged this writer shortly after the squad was announced with the phrase: "It looks like a club squad not an international squad."

But that's just where Welsh rugby is at. Sherratt has opted to reward those who have long been deemed good club players but have never had the opportunity on the international circuit.