A lot of oil will be burned in the coming days as Warren Gatland considers which players to include in his World Cup squad for Wales.

No doubt he will bring back many, if not all, of the ones he used during the Six Nations. We’ll have to see how many surprises the New Zealander will prepare.

Despite this, many players have not received Gatland shirts this season and have been at the forefront of the regional scene.

Today’s rugby news: Welsh duo bow out as Scarlets get European boost

Some regional stars came from abroad. But there are also many Welsh players who have led the way for their teams.

Here is the best XV of the regions in this period.

15. Angus O’Brien (“Dragons”)

He’s 28 and still doesn’t have a bed; perhaps it is always limitless; after all, the choice is subjective. But judging by this season, there is reason to believe that Gatland should at least give the Dragons player a look. As skilled as he is daring, O’Brien doesn’t lack for style and is an excellent kicker.

It is an advantage that he can also play as a winger, but he has played most of his matches this season as a winger. It was always a class act.

Unlucky to lose: Jonny McNicholl (Scarlets).

14. River Dyer (Dragons)

Engagements in Wales kept him away from the Dragons at times, but he still played 15 games for them and was a threat every time he entered the field with his electric pace and ability to leave opponents fighting. When he played the Ospreys in October, he terrified the defense with his pace and ability to seize opportunities. He has also improved as a player since his promotion to Wales, his relentless pursuit of goals.

Unlucky to miss: Steff Evans.

13. Ray Lee-Lo (“Cardiff”)

“In my opinion, he probably doesn’t get the applause he deserves when you talk about this club; you’re talking about the likes of Paul Tito, Casey Laulala and Xavier Rush, but he’s as good as it gets. What he brought to this club was him at the top of the tree for me.”

That’s what former Cardiff manager Richard Hodges had to say about the Samoa standout. Li-Lo can defend, but it’s on offense that she really shines with her eye for the gap and her ability to steer into the slightest gap. Now aged 37, he remains one of the best centers in Rugby Union this season.

Unlucky to lose: Mason Grady (Cardiff).

12. Keiran Williams (Ospreys)

Wales struggled to advance in the innings during the Six Nations, but did not pick the lad or include him in one of their squads on match day. Please reply on the postcard. Williams was never less than impressive for the Ospreys with his takedown and yardage ability.

Many opponents would have looked at him and imagined his chances, but they couldn’t stop the powerful 26-year-old. His performance against Leinster in January, when he beat 11 defenders, covered 73 meters and made 15 tackles, was outstanding.

Unlucky to lose: Max Llewelyn (Cardiff).

11. Josh Adams (Cardiff)

Over the years, some players lost form as they left the Test scene to play for their clubs; not Adam. Eleven times for Cardiff this season in 11 games underscores that, and his two goals against Sale earlier this month underscore his quality. He plays as if every game counts and is much more than a finisher, the 49-cap player is a keen defender that few opponents can expose.

Unlucky to lose: Ryan Conbeer.

10. Rhys Priestland (Cardiff)

If this truly is Rhys Priestland’s last season in professional rugby, he has signed in style for the Wales international at the heart of all that is great about Cardiff. Like a pool player who thinks half a dozen shots ahead, Priestland outsmarts his opponents with his intelligence and execution, buying time with his vision and conscience.

His effort against the Stormers in October was on another level. “I thought it was absolutely sublime, just wonderful. He was up to the task in terms of displaying tactical kicking from the 10th onwards for sure. He was great,” Stormers head coach John Dobson later said. You can read about the night Priestland stunned the opposing manager here.

Unlucky to lose: Jarrod Evans (Cardiff).

9. Tomes Williams (Cardiff)

It’s been a strange season for Williams. He was replaced by Wales but ended the season with a brilliant cameo against France. But he has been consistent and impressive in Cardiff, never better than against the Ospreys last weekend when he shone against Test rival Rhys Webb. Rhodri Williams is another player who played well, while Gareth Davies played for the Scarlets, but Williams was selected.

Unlucky to lose: Rhys Webb (Ospreys).

1. Nicky Smith (Ospreys)

Wales had a blind spot in Smith despite his stellar form for the Ospreys. This is another great mystery of our time. Rewind your region’s game against Leinster in January, when Smith gave a free-flying lesson to tackle Michael Ala’alatoa. If his standard play has been impressive, his work on the field has also been impressive, with Smith going all out against the Saracens in the Heineken Champions Cup. It’s been an incredible season for him, although it hasn’t paid off at Test level.

Unlucky to lose: Corey Domachowski (Cardiff).

2. Bradley Roberts (Dragons)

It was a great first season with the Dragons for Roberts, nearly a thousand minutes of action for the Eastern Welshman, much of it explosive and fully committed. Whether on the bench or as a player, he made a huge mark with his form, leading to his inclusion in Wales’ Six Nations squad. The former ulsterman will certainly appreciate a mention or two at the Rodney Parade awards night. Davy Lake has been a big presence for the Ospreys, but injuries have slowed him down. In Cardiff, Liam Belcher shines on the pitch.

Unlucky to lose: Davy Lake (fishermen).

3. Tom Botha (Ospreys)

The quiet man from Bellville, South Africa is not one to make noise by any means, but he has helped the Ospreys wreak havoc in more than one opposition clash this season. He likes the push and shove game and is good at it too, as his stocky build allows him to generate impressive power.

Botha’s display on the rugby pitch has few bells and whistles, but he defends well and has a knack for tackling, which he has shown repeatedly over the past eight months. After five years with the Ospreys he could play for Wales this summer and could interest Warren Gatland.

Unlucky to lose: Dmytro Arkhip (Cardiff).

4. Vaea Fifita (Scarlet)

Is it a castle, a curtain, a bird or a plane? We know he can jump when the red mist descends but we also know he can fly 85 yards and there’s little anyone in the opposition can do about that – just ask the whole Glasgow Warriors defense on duty in Scotstoun on a winter night. April. On February 15th, when Mr. Fifita raced up the hill at incredible speed on a muddy night late in the game to land, only to be denied his effort after fouling with cancer.

All in all, Fifita had a great season for the Scarlets, proving he’s a must-have player no matter what number he wears on his back.

Bad luck to lose: Adam Bird (fishermen).

5. Sam Luzi (Scarlet)

Another who had an odd relationship with the refereeing, a dismissal against Zebre in October, but the 6ft 6in Tongan international also earned his £19 gold for the Scarlets with his action-packed displays. If you’re not turning the ball over, you’re running down the field as a carrier or catching the ball one-handed and confusing opposing players.

The Dragones’ Gonzalo Bertranu may still be trying to figure out what happened after Luzi caught the ball in the air with one hand while making a pass before it hit the ground in a game last season. This term also featured more of the outrageous mixed with the uncompromising basics.

Unlucky to lose: Alan Wyn Jones (Ospreys).

6. Josh Turnbull (Cardiff)

At 35 years old, Turnbull is probably not as fast as he used to be. Maybe he’s been feeling the bruises a little more lately. But his value to Cardiff is through the roof. He has played 1,683 minutes this season, starting 22 of 23 games. When the turmoil hit from all sides, the captain was there with the front lead. We will call his contribution invaluable and leave it at that.

Unlucky to miss: Ethan Roots.

7.Thomas Young (Cardiff)

It felt like I picked one out of Leonard, Duran and Hurns circa 1981. Jack Morgan was huge for the Ospreys but hasn’t played for the Ospreys since February and Justin Tipuric was also 9/10 but missed games through injury and against Wales . So maybe Thomas Young will outdo him. Some 200 United Rugby Champions tackles and many disposals suggest his contribution. There were also delays and attempts. He ran a great campaign.

Unlucky to miss: Jack Morgan.

8. Sione Kalamafoni (Scarlets)

Perhaps it’s a position that most players are fighting for, including Morgan Morris, Taulupe Faletau and Aaron Wainwright, who left for their respective teams. But all roads lead back to Kalamafoni. Even when the Scarlets were early in the season, his No. 8 was rolling, stretching relentlessly and racking up big tackles.

When West Wallians continued into the mid-period, Calamafoni led the way with a run that could only be described as harrowing. Ball transfer after ball transfer. Morris is also in trouble, but this one is further west.

How the ‘Scarlet’ will miss the 34-year-old footballer, who is going to France.

Sad to lose: Morgan Morris (fishermen).

Source: Wales Online