Every bolter on Warren Gatland's watchlist as audition time comes to an end

There could be a few shock selections in Warren Gatland's Wales squad this autumn

The clock is ticking down towards Warren Gatland's squad announcement ahead of next month's internationals.

Wales face Fiji, Australia and South Africa in Cardiff this autumn, looking to put an end to their run of nine straight Test defeats. Gatland will undoubtedly already have the majority of his squad pencilled in but there are bound to be at least a handful of places up for grabs.

While there are plenty of familiar faces in the mix it wouldn't come as a surprise if there were a fair few bolters selected in the squad. Rugby correspondent Steffan Thomas takes a look at the ones Gatland could select this autumn. Get the latest Welsh rugby breaking news by signing up to our free daily newsletter here.

Freddie Thomas

The dynamic Gloucester lock has targeted a place in Gatland's squad. Thomas, who can also play in the backrow, was outstanding in front of the head coach as Gloucester beat Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate a fortnight ago.

The 22-year-old is a powerful carrier who gets through a lot of work while he is also an excellent lineout forward. With Dafydd Jenkins ruled out of the autumn internationals Thomas will be vying with the likes of Ben Carter, Matthew Screech and Teddy Williams for a place in the squad.

A strong performance in the West Country derby against Bath at Kingsholm on Saturday will do his chances of selection no harm at all.

Macs Page

The 19-year-old has made an impressive start to the season with a tremendous try out in Treviso, where he beat four defenders, making people sit up and take notice. Page is an explosive carrier who regularly breaks the line, has top-end pace, terrific footwork while his distribution is also good.

The rising Scarlets star is understandably a work in progress from a defensive point of view but he has all the attributes required to play Test rugby in the future. It might be too early to throw the teenager into a Test match from the off but it wouldn't come as too much of a shock if Gatland selected Page in his squad to take a closer look at him.

SIGN UP: Get the new exclusive Inside Welsh rugby newsletter for full insight into what's really going on behind the scenes.

Brodie Coghlan

The 23-year-old hooker has impressed for the Dragons in the first few rounds of the season. Coghlan is an abrasive character who rarely takes a backwards step and carries a lot of ball while he is solid at the set-piece.

Historically, Gatland has always liked players who have a certain level of abrasiveness to their game and Coghlan fits that mould. Dewi Lake and Ryan Elias are nailed on for the squad but with Elliot Dee still sidelined and Evan Lloyd picking up an injury for Cardiff last weekend Coghlan stands a reasonable chance of making the squad.

Shane Lewis-Hughes

It has been a few years since Lewis-Hughes was last capped by Wales but he is playing like a man reborn since joining the Dragons in the summer. Like his Dragons team-mate Coghlan, the abrasive blindside refuses to take a backwards step and is constantly in the opposition's faces.

Lewis-Hughes has a nice blend of athleticism and physicality, while he is an excellent lineout forward. Wales have some depth in the backrow, especially if Taulupe Faletau is fit and pushes Aaron Wainwright back onto the blindside, but Lewis-Hughes' will likely be considered.

Max Llewellyn

The former Cardiff centre has not figured for Wales since the pre World Cup warm-ups in 2023. After a slow start to his Gloucester career Llewellyn has impressed both in midfield and out on the wing.

At 6ft 5in and 105kg Llewellyn certainly has the power and the size to thrive on the international circuit. If there is one area of the field where Gatland has not nailed down a first-choice partnership it's in midfield and given Llewellyn's form he has to be considered this autumn.

“I think he has to be in the conversation,” said Gloucester head coach George Skivington about Llewellyn. “I know the Wales crew very well, and I know certainly they were saying it’s great he’s playing a variety of positions, and he’s on the radar and they’re talking about him.

“It will all depend on who’s going well in the URC, but in my opinion Max is getting better and better all the time.”

Dan Edwards

The rising Ospreys star is the form outside-half in Wales at this moment in time. Edwards is playing with such confidence and conviction he at the very least needs to be considered.

Wales have been far from convincing at outside-half since Dan Biggar's retirement from Test rugby. Both Sam Costelow and Ben Thomas are good players but haven't nailed down the shirt, while Gatland could recall the experienced Gareth Anscombe this autumn.

It's surely a matter of when not if Edwards plays Test rugby but Wales could do worse than give the 21-year-old his Test debut in November.