The final World Cup preview, the Welsh side. With a few Australian-based players abut mostly British-based players selected, the experience for the Welsh side is there but can they produce solid footy to make it to the next round?
Wales are a budding World Cup nation and have taken recent strides in recent years but will have their work cut out in the tournament as they look to make their mark and qualify for the knockout stages.
With the Cook Islands and the USA in their group, the three teams are relatively evenly matched and so the games will be tense, lively and no doubt come down to the wire.
With Australian based players like Tyson Frizell, Ian Webster, James Geurtjens & Matt Seamark, the Australian contingent along with the heavy nucleus of English players, will be what Wales hopes springboards them towards success.
No game in the World Cup is easy but Wales will have confidence, led by coach Iestyn Harris.
Overall, they have the quality to progress and will push hard to do so, but they will have their work cut out for them. One can see them finishing atop their group.
Here’s the side I’d go with:
1. Elliot Kear
2. Rob Massam
3. Tyson Frizell
4. Christiaan Roets
5. Rhys Williams
6. Danny Jones
7. Matt Seamark
8. Craig Kopczak
9. Neil Budworth
10. Jordan James
11. Larne Patrick
12. Rhodri Lloyd
13. Ben Flower
14. Jacob Emmitt
15. Gil Dudson
16. Peter Lupton
17. Ross Divorty