What Warren Gatland must do now with latest rising star to avoid same old story

Cardiff: The Wales number 10 shirt has always been a tough gig in rugby. Fans expect a lot from whoever wears it. Just look at Neil Jenkins. He was a fantastic player but still faced harsh criticism for not being flashy enough.

Then there’s Stephen Jones, who helped Wales win Grand Slams but still got flak from fans. Rhys Priestland was another talented player who faced the music, even getting booed by his own crowd. It’s a tough spot to be in.

Now, young Dan Edwards is stepping up to the plate. He’s the only player in the squad who regularly plays outside-half at club level. He’s got the skills and potential, but Wales needs to be careful with him.

At just 21, Edwards is a rising star. He’s got a great kicking game and can read the game well. But he’s still young and has room to grow. It might be smart to start Ben Thomas against France and bring Edwards in later.

Gatland has been giving young players a chance, but the jump to Test rugby is huge. Mistakes at that level can cost you dearly. Edwards has shown promise, but he’s not quite at the same level as some of his peers yet.

Take Sam Prendergast from Leinster, for example. He’s been playing at a higher level, which prepares him better for international play. Edwards has potential, but he needs the right environment to thrive.

Wales’ teams are in the Challenge Cup, which makes it harder to judge how ready players are for the big stage. It would have been good to have someone like Gareth Anscombe around to support Edwards.

Fans need to be patient with Edwards. He might take some time to adjust. Remember Sam Costelow? He was hailed as the next big thing but faced a lot of criticism after a few mistakes. It’s a tough crowd.

Dan Biggar put it well when he said playing number 10 for Wales is unique. When things go well, it’s great, but when they don’t, the blame falls squarely on the fly-half. Let’s hope the fans give Edwards a fair shot.