Wales' new call-up is a 'real asset' to Warren Gatland as surprise exit exposes reality

Last week saw Eddie James called up to Warren Gatland's Wales squad for the summer Tests against South Africa and Australia.

The uncapped Scarlets centre had initially not been named in the 36-man squad, but was added late last week following some fitness tests.

The 21-year-old will be hoping to get some minutes, with Wales playing four matches this summer - with a game against Queensland Reds capping off their tour down under.

However, regardless of whether he features this summer, he's clearly one for the future.

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Our rugby writers Ben James and Steff Thomas have been reacting to Wales' latest call-up on the Welsh Rugby Podcast and here’s a transcript of their discussion. You can listen to the latest episode here.

Ben: Gatland's got slightly more players to pick from than we thought he might at one point. He'll have the Ospreys boys, he'll have Henry Thomas, Scarlets' new signing as Castres didn't make the top six in the Top 14, and he'll have Eddie James, who he's called up. The Scarlets centre who we probably expected to be in the squad last Monday.

He wasn't and we now know that's because he was having fitness tests and an MRI scan. Otherwise, Wales management tell us he would have been in on Monday. Deserved call-up for the young man? Obviously he's one for now, as he's going to Australia, but definitely one for the future?

Steff: I think so. I was reading a piece with Sam Warburton recently and he made the point that just because a player is excelling at regional level, it doesn't necessarily mean he's going to be a Test player. It takes a certain type of athlete to excel in the international arena and I think Eddie James is that type of athlete.

He's got size, he's got explosive power, pace and footwork. A lot of people don't know this, but he played fly-half all the way up to U18s. He understands the game and he's a better player than people give him credit for. He's been the standout player in a dire season for the Scarlets. He's been one of the only shining lights. When you look at the Six Nations, I thought Wales lacked incision in midfield and certainly lacked carriers throughout their team.

Eddie James could potentially give you that crash-ball, get-over-the-gainline post-contact metres carrying. He's got that long-arm offload as well, which is really useful. He's got nice footwork and his hands are better than he's given credit for. I think he's quite raw. His decision-making under pressure needs to improve but he's got a high ceiling.

I think Owen Watkin will go into the summer as first-choice 12. He's played well for the Ospreys and did well against France. I think it will be Owen Watkin and Mason Grady, with Eddie James eased in. But looking ahead to the next World Cup, assuming he doesn't pick up any bad injuries, you'd have to say in the long run he could be a real asset to Warren Gatland and Wales.

You know you've mentioned Keiran Williams and he's been outstanding at regional level. He hasn't had a real shot at Test level. I know Warren Gatland gets a lot of criticism, but sometimes he has to think to himself that Player X isn't going to be more than a six out of 10 at Test level, but this younger kid who is a bit greener could be a eight or nine out of 10 in four years time. I think there's an element of that. I personally think it's a good selection and Wales will benefit from it in the long run.

Ben: It frees up Ben Thomas to cover 10 more, which helps with having one out-and-out 10. But it probably reduces the chances of seeing Ben Thomas play 12, which would have been interesting to see if Gatland went down that route. Obviously when he came back in last year, he had Joe Hawkins available and he stayed with the ball-playing 12 that Wayne Pivac had introduced in his final game.

But since then, it has not quite been Warrenball - I know Gatland joked about not being able to play Warrenball with Nick Tompkins -but it has been a more direct centre partnership with Tompkins and George North in the World Cup and Six Nations. Ben Thomas would give them something different, but that seems unlikely to happen. Going forward, you'll probably see Eddie James and Mason Grady in there, which is not route one, but it's physical.

Steff: You could say that Wales lacked physicality in the Six Nations, so they need that. What they need is players who can make metres. They had to work extra hard to get over the gainline. Other teams have players who can smash through and make those extra metres. Wales didn't have that, so you could argue it's needed - especially if they have a creative 10 like Ben Thomas.

As well as discussing Eddie James' call-up, the news that the Scarlets had released flanker Teddy Leatherbarrow was also mentioned on the podcast. The news came as a surprise to many fans, with the 24-year-old having been named breakthrough player of the year at Parc y Scarlets by the regions' supporters' trust.

Ben: Scarlets have announced a new signing. That's gone down well down west. What's not gone down so well is Teddy Leatherbarrow hasn't got a contract. I know they've got a lot of sevens there, but maybe not sevens they can rely on in terms of fitness. Guys like Josh Macleod and Dan Davies. Are you surprised Leatherbarrow hasn't got a contract? He's been decent for them this year.

Steff: Yes and no, really. He's played really well for them this season. He's not the biggest, he hasn't got size. But his work-rate is huge, he tackles everything. He's a real pest at the breakdown. Like I say, he hasn't got the size so he's probably not going to go further than being a good squad player with a pro club.

But when you consider Josh Macleod, fine player he is, is very injury prone and Dan Davis, a good player, picks up a lot of injuries, it's disappointing. But at the end of the day, Scarlets fans have got to realise - and it's not just the Scarlets, but all the regions - that the financial situation is really bad in Wales.

To be fair to the Scarlets board, Dwayne Peel and Jon Daniels, they've strengthened the pack for next season. Their pack looks a bit better. The strongest team they can put is probably going to be a bit better. But it's the players lower down the food chain that will be affected.

I've no idea what money he was offered, but players of Leatherbarrow's profile will be hurt by this current period of austerity in Welsh rugby. They'll be offered peanuts if anything to stay. They can think that they'll play against the likes of Josh van der Flier if they stay in pro rugby, but they could be earning minimum wage.

But if they play semi-pro and get a job, and Teddy is a very intelligent guy with a degree, they could earn more money than being a pro player. That's just where Welsh rugby is at. The regions, and some English clubs as well, have got to make tough decisions like that. If they had another half million in their budget, they'd have probably kept him. But that's the reality of Welsh rugby at the minute. He won't be the last player the regions want to keep that they'll have to let go.