Warren Gatland will be licking his lips at return of Wales star who packs real punch

There hasn't been much for Welsh rugby fans to cheer about of late, especially when it concerns the senior men's national side.

A first Six Nations Wooden Spoon for 21 years means expectations are naturally low ahead of summer games against South Africa at Twickenham and a two-Test series against Australia Down Under. But barring any injuries picked up over the next month Warren Gatland could travel to Australia with a stronger pack at least.

The obvious difference will be the expected inclusion of influential Ospreys forwards Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan, who were sidelined because of injury during the Six Nations, while the return of versatile Exeter Chiefs star Christ Tshiunza will add to the strength in depth in the squad. But Gatland will also be licking his lips at the prospect of a fit and firing Taine Plumtree.

Gatland took Plumtree to his Rugby World Cup training camps in Switzerland and Turkey despite the new Scarlets signing having not played a game of rugby in Wales at the time, while he won his first two caps against England (twice) last August. In the end Plumtree missed out on the final World Cup squad, with a shoulder injury not helping his cause, but the word from the Wales camp was that he had impressed and was a player they feel has huge potential.

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Plumtree is nowhere near the finished article and has a few rough edges to his game but his ceiling is high. There are other players who have performed consistently well at regional level for longer, but Plumtree brings a dimension which not many other players in Wales possess.

The 24-year-old has the right blend of athleticism and physicality, while he is a naturally good rugby player. Gatland would likely have been impressed by Plumtree's contribution during the Scarlets' narrow defeat at home to the Sharks in Llanelli on Friday night.

According to RugbyPass the Swansea-born loose forward made 19 tackles, six clean linebreaks and 13 carries, more than any other Scarlets player, while he is also an excellent lineout operator. In an interview with RugbyPass last week former Wales captain Sam Warburton, who has now forged a career as one of the game's most informative pundits, said: "People don't like me saying this but to play international rugby you have to be a certain level of athlete - it's a different sport.

"If you are not physically extremely powerful, fit or have a superpower in another aspect of your game, you won't make it. It's as simple as that."

Warburton went on to single out the versatile Tshiunza as a player who fits that bracket but Plumtree isn't too dissimilar. Of course nothing is certain but Plumtree is an athlete and the raw materials are there for the former Auckland Blues player to one day excel in the international arena.

Plumtree also has the size to pack a physical punch on the international stage but it is about refining his skill set and ironing out any creases. A Wales pack which includes Lake, Will Rowlands, Morgan and Plumtree gives Gatland some more carrying options.

Plumtree has three United Rugby Championship games remaining for the Scarlets this season which gives the former New Zealand U20s international the opportunity to build a bit of form and momentum. Unfortunately Taulupe Faletau has been ruled out for the remainder of the season, meaning Aaron Wainwright is likely to continue at No 8.

It is unlikely Gatland will play the outstanding Tommy Reffell in the same back-row as the returning Morgan after admitting it may have been a mistake to play both together in Wales' disappointing World Cup quarter-final defeat to Argentina. Alex Mann did a decent job during the Six Nations but Wales need more size in the back-row.

One option could be to play Mackenzie Martin at No 8 with Wainwright moving back to blindside but Gatland will likely want the experienced Dragons man packing down at the back of the scrum. We are more likely to see either Tshiunza or Plumtree start in the number six shirt, with either Morgan or Reffell at openside and Wainwright at No 8.

Given Wales' clash with the Springboks falls outside of World Rugby designated window Tshiunza will be unavailable for the clash at Twickenham giving Plumtree a real chance of starting. But first the dynamic backrower must nail down a place in Gatland's squad and the only way of doing that is to play well for the Scarlets.