Tag: cardiff

• Wales vs New Zealand Review – Autumn Nations 2025

  Wales vs New Zealand Review – Autumn Nations 2025

  Wales 26 – 52 New Zealand

  Following the disappointing outing against Japan last week, Wales desperately needed to show some signs of promise under Tandy, as far too many question marks remained going into two very dangerous fixtures against the All Blacks and Springboks. Fortunately, as that scoreline may suggest, Wales’ attack got firing once again. This is only the second time in their history they’ve scored 4 tries against the all Blacks, and while a weaker team than the New Zealanders typically field, Wales have actually achieved a lot of what they set out to do – instill some hope.

  For 60 minutes, this was not a one-sided game. Tom Rogers’ hattrick brought the game to 21-24, and the atmosphere of the Principality could be felt as Wales looked capable of performing what would’ve been one of the greatest upsets in the sport’s professional history. Nevertheless, it wasn’t to be. But after looking dismayed, out-of-focus, and unstructured against Japan, Wales looked a lot more like an international rugby team with an identity and gameplan; moving the ball quickly out of the rucks, chasing the high-ball, and bringing real pace with ball-in-hand.

  But inevitably, they were not the team with something to lose, and New Zealand were just too hungry and too experienced for the hosts to handle. Discipline and defence, similarly to the Argentina game, just weren’t on the level of the opposition, and despite Mann, Deaves, and Plumtree’s solid ruck skills, no ruck turnovers were won by Wales as they finished with half the visitors’ possession. The backrow didn’t quite have power to win rucks, and as a result couldn’t slow down the All Blacks’ ball speed, giving them the opportunities to score 7 tries. With the squad now missing their players based out of Wales for the Springboks clash, achieving a similar result with a weaker squad will be Tandy’s goal, but this game has given the team a good foundation to build upon.

  Player Ratings

  1: Rhys Carré 3

  A game to forget for the loosehead, who didn’t hold out defensively as he missed 4 tackles, giving away tries to Ruben Lova and Tamaiti Williams. His trademark power didn’t really shine through, and he struggled in the scrum against the less experienced Pasilio Tosi, though he almost got a try of his own with a strong carry.

  2: Dewi Lake 6

  Lake has had a weird autumn so far, as in the loose he remains as effective as ever with 20 tackles and some strong carries. But his issues at the lineout haven’t straightened up, and as he matures at test level, you’d expect it to be less of an issue than it has been. 

  3 Kieron Assiratti 5

  A few penalties held him back, but otherwise held out in the scrum against the much larger Tamaiti Williams. Made some strong tackles, but not much else as the hosts’ couldn’t physically impose themselves in this game.

  4 Dafydd Jenkins 8

  Slightly generous, but one of his best games yet. His signature workrate was as apparent as always, with 21 tackles, but he also read the game very well, with his charge down catching the visitors’ defence off guard. Seems to get better the more he plays, and showed why he needs to be involved with Wales somehow.

  5 Adam Beard 5

  Did a lot more work at the lineout than he has been, but the lack of notable improvement is beginning to raise questions about his place in the starting XV. Not that he’s a bad player, but he doesn’t bring much that the all-rounder Jenkins doesn’t already, and Wales really needed a stronger enforcer here.

  6 Alex Mann 6

  Less dominant than in the first two weeks. Still tied for most tackles completed at 21, but also missed 4 and couldn’t make a mark in the ruck. Was one of the players penalised for errors at the breakdown.

  7 Harri Deaves 6

  With how much power New Zealand threw at Wales and this being his first cap, he made a good account of himself with some very powerful tackles. Still, he couldn’t win anything at the breakdown and was outplayed by Ruben Love for the latter’s try. Has some work to do to surpass other 7s in a competitive jersey for Wales.

  8 Taine Plumtree 4

  A mixed bag; on the one hand, he made 21 tackles like Jenkins and Mann, which is extra impressive with his more limited gametime, but the reason for that was his awful discipline. Plumtree conceded 3 penalties and was carded at an inopportune time for the hosts, showing he still has some work to do to establish himself as a starter.

  9 Tomos Williams 7

  His box-kicking has developed a lot since he became the starting 9 for Wales, and his precision helped Wales out tremendously on attack. Controlled the game brilliantly and made a relatively impressive 14 tackles, though didn’t make any carries or assist any tries directly.

  10 Dan Edwards 7

  Kicked very well, putting pressure on the top-tier All Blacks backline while he set up Rogers’ first try with an excellent offload. His smaller frame didn’t help him on defence, but his aggressive playstyle paid off as he’s very much established himself in this Wales XV.

  11 Tom Rogers 9

  His best game yet, becoming one of only 4 players to score a hattrick against the All Blacks. Holding up Will Jordan’s try required solid skills, though he hasn’t fully fixed his defensive concerns by moving out of position a little too often. There’s little else he did wrong however, and he can be expected to remain in the starting XV somewhere going forward.

  12 Joe Hawkins 6

  Needed a good game to show how he could surpass Ben Thomas, though it was more of a mixed bag as he missed 6 tackles on his first international game since 2023. On attack, however, his distribution skills were best shown with his excellent pass to Max Llewellyn to set up one of Rogers’ tries, and he kicked well for the most part too. Should be trusted with this jersey against South Africa.

  13 Max Llewellyn 6

  Did well to assist 2 tries and made some good defensive reads, but his discipline held him back and even his frame couldn’t make a physical impact against the All Blacks. Has ended the Autumn with extra credit overall, however, and other 13s will have work to do to supplant him.

  14 Louis Rees-Zammit 8

  A big improvement after last week, with his one try being very deserved with his contributions on attack throughout the game. Kick chases, three line breaks, and 82 meters carried gives a good account of his attacking prowess, and while gaps remain in his overall game, will be a crucial player going forward.

  15: Blair Murray 5

  Still struggled under the high ball, but was protected a lot better. Beat 3 defenders and looked as dangerous as ever with ball in hand, but also missed 3 tackles. With how much he’s contributed throughout the year, it’s a shame the majority of talk will be about his waning future at fullback, and Tandy will have to re-consider his place going forward.

  BENCH

  16 Brodie Coghlan N/A

  Dewi Lake played a lot of rugby today, and for the Gwent man’s first cap, he barely had any work to do in the 4 minutes he was given.

  17 Gareth Thomas 2

  2 penalties for the same tackle infringement and a yellow card within the first 5 minutes of coming off the bench are simply not acceptable errors from a player with Thomas’ experience and usual class. Given he’s likely to start the next test, he needs to turn around his performance drastically against a very dangerous Springbok pack, as being sent off had a visible impact on Wales’ structure in the second half.

  18 Archie Griffin 4

  Also a weak performance, as he struggled to handle the experienced George Bower in the scrum and was stood up. Put in a solid defensive effort though.

  19 Freddie Thomas N/A

  Not much gametime, which has been an unfortunate theme for him given he’s played all 3 tests. Clearly has something to give the Wales squad, with his more effective carrying game, but is usually only brought in when the game is wrapped up.

  20 Morgan Morse 6

  Made more carries-per-minute-played than any other player, and he’s clearly a more physical influence in 7 than Deaves. Didn’t have much time to show this however, though the few meters he made helped give Rees-Zammit his try.

  21 Kieran Hardy 5

  Didn’t pass the ball to the other team. It’s hard to look effective as a scrum-half replacing Tomos Williams, but Hardy did his job well when the team was on the back foot and will likely start next week as a result.

  22 Jarrod Evans 4

  Harsh score, but was outplayed by Sevu Reece for the latter’s second try and missed his conversion attempt. Will miss the next game unfortunately, but this game showed his struggles when his team are behind.

  23 Nick Tompkins 6

  The only bench player to really contribute positively, which is impressive given he replaced Wales’ best player at that point. Effective on both sides of the ball, but not enough to really turn the tide by himself. Another breakdown specialist who couldn’t handle the All Blacks’ power.

  My Team for South Africa:

  1. Gareth Thomas
  2. Dewi Lake (C)
  3. Kieron Assiratti
  4. Rhys Davies
  5. Ben Carter
  6. Alex Mann
  7. Morgan Morse
  8. Aaron Wainwright
  9. Kieran Hardy
  10. Dan Edwards
  11. Blair Murray
  12. Joe Hawkins
  13. Joe Roberts
  14. Rio Dyer
  15. Tom Rogers

  BENCH

  16. Evan Lloyd
  17. Danny Southworth
  18. Christian Coleman
  19. James Fender
  20. Harri Deaves
  21. Taine Plumtree
  22. Reuben Morgan-Williams
  23. Jacob Beetham

  With some new call-ups added to the squad following the departure of outside players, I’ve picked a team that can prioritise physicality and limit the Springboks’ influence at the breakdown as much as possible. Experience determines the front-row and lock combinations, as Carter and Davies are both comfortable in physical contests against South African teams. Assuming Aaron Wainwright is fit, there isn’t enough room for James Ratti, as Deaves is trusted to come off the bench and provide a solid defensive performance as he did against the Stormers and Bulls in the URC. I’ve also selected Evan Lloyd ahead of initial squad member Brodie Coghlan, as while there isn’t much in it, Lloyd is larger and a bit more dynamic in his carrying, making the bigger difference with the more limited minutes the 16 jersey is likely to have.

  Joe Roberts joins the XV as the only out-and-out 13 in the squad, while Tom Rogers moves to fullback and Murray moves to the wing for the aerial contest. Jacob Beetham and Ellis Mee are good options too, but experience is the deciding factor against a more well-honed Springbok side. I’ve opted for a 6-2 bench as well to prevent the forwards from being too exhausted by the Springboks’ physical contests, and Beetham can play everywhere except 9 anyway. 

  2025.11.24

• Wales vs Japan Review – Autumn Nations 2025

  Wales vs Japan Review – Autumn Nations 2025

  Wales 24- 23 Japan

  After the Argentina game pressure was on Tandy to rally the squad after that performance and improve key areas of the game.There, Wales had a very solid attacking structure undermined by poor aerial control and inconsistent defence, which the more experienced Argentina side were able to adapt to and capitalise on. While few adjustments were made, Wales’ signs of promise suggested we may see a more dominant performance against a side of similar standing like Japan.

  We didn’t.

  By all accounts, Wales probably shouldn’t have won this; Japan had 6% more possession and two-thirds of the territory. Only poor discipline and inexperience gave Wales the opportunities to win this game; to their credit, almost every entry to Japan’s 22 gave Wales a try, but getting there seemed nigh-impossible at times. Almost no energy, dynamism, or coordination in attack left the hosts forced to rely on individual success just to get across the field, as they couldn’t win the aerial battles to kick for territory or outpace Japan’s defenders reliably enough. The squad looked even lower on confidence and determination than against Argentina, against a team that’s only beaten the latter once in their entire history.

  But still, in the last 10 minutes, Tandy’s bench pulled through; Japan’s final entries to Wales’ 22 were turned around into a brilliant across-the-field play from Wales, and a final maul gave them the penalty needed for Jarrod Evans to take it back. But still, Wales shouldn’t need to be in these situations; these players have played better games against far more experienced, clinical, and well-rounded teams than Japan, but the adjustments made were insufficient to match-up against Jones’ men. Japan lost the game by their lack of experience finishing their work; Wales won it because they knew they needed to in order to avoid an even lower low than has been playing them all-year. They’ve edged into the top 12 for the Rugby World Cup seedings, but against New Zealand and South Africa, serious improvements will need to be made if Tandy is to reinstill hope in this team.

  Player Ratings:

  1: Nicky Smith 6

  Good scrummaging, though he couldn’t force many errors from Japan. One big dominant tackle stood out next to his otherwise underwhelming effort without the ball, though he’s becoming a better carrier.

  2: Dewi Lake 5

  Wales’ lineout comfortably came out second best, and while his defensive work was very reliable, the blame has to fall to Lake for Wales’ errors here. The team didn’t really look as though they had the drive to win, which doesn’t paint a particularly good picture of his captaincy either, though his past record means he’ll likely retain it going forward.

  3: Archie Griffin 6

  The scrum was generically good for Wales, and Griffin made a more considerable account of himself on defence than Smith. As one of the less experienced players in the squad, he more than keeps up with what has been a surprisingly consistent pack.

  4: Dafydd Jenkins 6

  Brought a bit more of his usual workhorse nature to this game than the last; made the second most amount of tackles than anyone else on the pitch, and got a lot out of his limited carries, though his penalty following Nick Tompkins’ try took the wind out of Wales’ sails for a while.

  5: Adam Beard 5

  Helped out a lot with the defence, making 14 tackles, but given that he played 80 minutes you’d expect more work from an international lock; that’s the same tackle-per-minute score as Tomos. The lineout was messy, and given his skillset you’d have expected to see more from him in this area.

  6: Aaron Wainwright 5

  I don’t really know what to do with Wainwright; he made more tackles per minute than everyone besides Cracknell and when he got the ball in hand, he made good progress. But in both areas, he also made a few big errors, which stood out with how few errors Mann and Cracknell made. 5 might be a bit harsh, but the competition for backrow spots is tight and he needs to tidy up if he is to be retained.

  7: Alex Mann 8

  The poor guy kept getting battered by all of Japan’s illegal tackles, but he knew what Tandy needed from him and he delivered. The most consistent lineout operator and made some notable tackles, he more than kept up with Cracknell on both sides of the ball.

  8: Olly Cracknell 9

  The official man-of-the-match, Cracknell epitomised what Wales actually did quite well; he made 27 tackles and while he may have missed a few, he was one of the only players offering themselves as a powerful carrying option. Never timid on either side of the ball, he’s made a solid case for this jersey going into the Six Nations.

  9: Tomos Williams 7

  One very dumb penalty hindered what was otherwise a solid performance. Tomos assisted all 3 of Wales’ tries and maintained a notable kicking presence which kept Japan on the backfoot out of Wales’ rucks. Led quite well during his brief stint as captain too, which may need to be a part of his game for Wales going forward.

  10: Dan Edwards 7

  Better kicking game, especially next to Seungsin Lee’s mixed performances. His opening try could’ve been a great momentum-starter had the rest of the team pulled their weight to a similar extent. Not the next for controlling the game yet, but he’s steadily growing at this level, and it’s great to see.

  11: Josh Adams 2

  The best aerial operator of the outside backs, not that it’s a particularly high bar. A few decent attempts at carrying doesn’t overshadow his weak defensive performance and a completely idiotic error that led to a red card. Adams has been making too many mistakes at this level, and it’s questionable if he should start as often as he does.

  12: Ben Thomas 3

  Did little else beyond shuffle the ball to other players, and was under considerable pressure in his own channel. Looked as though he didn’t know how to go forward, and after his weak performance last week, will be lucky to be retained next week.

  13: Max Llewellyn 5

  A better showing than Thomas, with some reasonable carries and game-reading, but never really made a significant impact. Compared to his more well-rounded showing last week, he hasn’t really done much to show his potential at this level

  14: Louis Rees-Zammit 6

  A mixed bag; I can’t rate Zammit too lowly when he’s beating 8 defenders in a single game, and his one break down the field gave Wales significant progress on defence. Still, his defence and aerial game looked very rusty, and he needs to add some more “us” to his “me” game to re-attain his past form. Not reading plays particularly well.

  15: Blair Murray 3

  Yet again, a poor aerial performance which didn’t enable him enough carrying to show his good qualities. It’s hard to justify persisting with him as a fullback at this stage; Japan’s backs comfortably had his number in the air and he got turned over way too often for any of his plays to mean much.

  BENCH

  16: Liam Belcher 6

  That driving maul was incredible, and Belcher certainly made an impact in his strangely limited time on the field.

  17: Rhys Carré 6

  He’s always been second-best to Smith at the scrum, but more than kept up after he took over the loosehead role. Made a lot more considerable carries, so the bench spot looks like the role for him going forward.

  18: Kieron Assiratti 6

  Didn’t outshine Griffin, but played like a man hungry for revenge after his poor performance in the summer, making the most of his limited time on the field. Decent tackle rate against an elusive Japanese side.

  19: Freddie Thomas 5

  Once again, barely got to play, and you question what Tandy expects him to bring off of the bench. His limited work looked solid, however.

  20: Taine Plumtree 5

  Made a turnover, which is nice. Didn’t really outshine the otherwise underwhelming Wainwright, as his own errors held him back.

  21: Kieran Hardy N/A

  I think Tandy was nervous about making him play against Japan again.

  22: Jarrod Evans 8

  Won the game with a very confident penalty kick. We may have seen some more flourishes had he been brought on earlier, but did everything he needed to do, so he earns a high score for such little time.

  23: Nick Tompkins 7

  Brought immediate impact as he scored a try shortly after replacing Adams. Quietened down a bit after that, but like Jarrod, did exactly what was asked of him.

  My Team for New Zealand

  1. Nicky Smith
  2. Dewi Lake
  3. Archie Griffin
  4. Rhys Davies
  5. Dafydd Jenkins
  6. Alex Mann
  7. Morgan Morse
  8. Olly Cracknell
  9. Tomos Williams
  10. Dan Edwards
  11. Rio Dyer
  12. Joe Hawkins
  13. Louie Hennessey
  14. Louis Rees-Zammit
  15. Jacob Beetham

  BENCH

  16. Liam Belcher
  17. Rhys Carré
  18. Kieron Assiratti
  19. Freddie Thomas
  20. Aaron Wainwright
  21. Kieran Hardy
  22. Jarrod Evans
  23. Nick Tompkins

  I’ve wielded the axe quite a bit, as I hope and somewhat expect Tandy to do the same. While cohesion was valuable for a must-win game like Japan, we need players who perform even more, and the current setup just isn’t working right now. Notably, the midfield is completely swapped for Hawkins and Hennessey, who are younger players but have high ceilings than Thomas and Llewellyn in the long run – they’ll need gametime at some point. Dyer and Beetham complete the backline to replace underperforming players, as they possess the necessary qualities to perform their role at test level, though they’ll need to step up to perform against New Zealand.

  I’ve added Rhys Davies to the XV in place of Adam Beard, with Jenkins moving to fulfill the latter’s role in the set piece as he did during the Six Nations. Davies isn’t really a “stronger” carrier than Jenkins, but his more abrasive contact style can be valuable in the breakdown, with our limited options at 7. He’s more of a conventional enforcer than Jenkins. I’ve also reshuffled the backrow to try and give Morgan Morse an opportunity at 7, as his athletic carrying gives us more options to earn ground. His ruck work also takes pressure off Mann, as Wainwright and Cracknell don’t really pull their weight as much here. Wainwright’s strong carrying gives him a bench spot, though Plumtree might challenge him.

  2025.11.16

• Wales vs Argentine Review – Autumn Nations 2025

  Wales vs Argentina Review – Autumn Nations 2025

  Wales 28 – 52 Argentina

  Feels strange to say that, given we lost by 24 points and conceded 7 tries, this felt like a gain overall for Wales. At no point did it feel as though we were going to win (not helped by a genuinely weak start) but like Italy vs New Zealand last year, it was a defeat where Wales felt capable of challenging one of the world’s strongest teams. After the game, both Dewi Lake and Steve Tandy mentioned they felt it was a 50/50 performance, and given they’ve only been together for 2 weeks, that’s an achievement in and of itself against a more experienced Pumas side who’ve been playing consistently since June.

  The start though, may have cost us in the long run. At times, Wales looked dejected and struggling for air against a relentless bombardment of kicks and rucks, and one might have wondered if a stronger beginning could have kept them more fired up. It was hard to see a 14 point lead in the first 10 minutes, and some of the younger players looked unconfident. Others rose to the occasion, and I’ll cover player ratings later, but overall Argentina were simply far more clinical; every Welsh mistake had an effect on the game, while Wales needed to work a lot harder for their scores.

  Overall, is this a disappointing result? Wales didn’t click as well as I expected, so I suppose it qualifies, but I don’t think it’s anything to be alarmed about. Defence will need to improve against more free-flowing teams like New Zealand and Japan, the former of whom can put 50-60 points on stronger sides than Wales, but if we keep up this level of power, we should still beat the latter. Argentina had every advantage going into this game besides the homefield; physically larger, better aerial options, far more experienced players (how often do teams get to field two centurions of Montoya and Matera’s quality?), more in-form players coming off of the Rugby Championship, and far more to lose had they fallen short.

  You can’t call it anything other than a mixed bag for Wales, but the trolls and doomsayers are far off the mark; we can work with this.

  Player Ratings:

  1: Rhys Carré 5

  Hyped up to be a sizable carrying threat, but he only managed 5. Less so his fault, but he was generally underutilised in a game where his physicality was needed. Didn’t really scrummage well either.

  2: Dewi Lake 7

  A strong carrying game, Lake brought his typical gameplay to a fairly average degree. Not a bad game for him, but his lineout errors still haven’t faded entirely, and he really needs to stamp those out if Wales’ lineout is to be a weapon. The try takes him up a point.

  3: Kieron Assiratti 7

  Weirdly good game; a very criticised player for his lack of positive impact and mediocre scrummaging, but he held out every scrum against Vivas and made a better carrying effort than usual. Showed he does in fact have a solid ceiling, though this score may flatter him; this may have been his best Wales game so far.

  4: Dafydd Jenkins 6

  Like Lake, mostly just played as well as usual. On the other hand, Jenkins’ workrate backfired, as he conceded the most penalties of anyone in the match, but 2 penalties isn’t really a problem. Should grow as the month goes on.

  5: Adam Beard 5

  With how much his lineout skills were needed, he was just ok. His great maul defence definitely caused Benitez Cruz some issues, but he was mostly invisible on attack. Lots of tackles, though.

  6: Alex Mann 7

  The same excellent tackler as usual, and with how well he’s played in his last 3 Wales games, may be here for another few this month. The first 10 minutes were rough, however, as he took a minute to get going and got outplayed by more experienced Argentine attackers. Actually made some solid carries too, but has some things to work on for Japan.

  7: Jac Morgan 9

  Once again, Wales’ best player. Showed some remarkable strength, restraining the power and dynamism of even Oviedo, but that injury will worry Tandy. Was genuinely considered for player of the match despite not playing 80 minutes and being on the weaker team; a testament to his value.

  8: Aaron Wainwright 7

  Trademark strong carries, but an above average defensive effort too. Has definitely nailed down this jersey in Faletau’s absence if he hadn’t already, though Argentina’s own power left him with little to show for it. 

  9: Tomos Williams 8

  Wales’ second best player. A fairly harmless yellow aside, was an excellent carrier and distributor who kept Wales in the game. Will be one of the most important players going forward until the next World Cup cycle, and this game showed why.

  10: Dan Edwards 6

  A mixed performance; his inexperience showed as Argentina’s mighty forward pack pressured him into some questionable kicks, but he nailed every conversion and made an absolutely beautiful run where he beat 3 defenders in quick succession. I’m expecting him to keep this jersey against Japan.

  11: Josh Adams 5

  Outside backs had an unusually weak game here, though Adams tried to make something of every opportunity he held the ball. Defensively underwhelming with a 33% tackle success rate, but didn’t have a lot to work with in the first place.

  12: Ben Thomas 3

  Should he have been carded? As Nigel Owens pointed out, it’s hard to penalise a player for foul play they didn’t actually make, but even with the 10 minutes taken away, Thomas didn’t really do much else except hand the ball to Prisciantelli for the latter’s second try. The few carries he made didn’t do him many favours, and this was probably his worst game so far.

  13: Max Llewellyn 7

  Finally, finally managed to bring something close to his Gloucester form last season to the test arena. While his try was disallowed, his defensive workrate surprised me, with 16 tackles showing he’s more than just a carrier. Wales have struggled to nail down the 13 jersey, but Llewellyn made a great case here.

  14: Tom Rogers 4

  Rogers was supposed to be our best aerial player, limiting Argentina’s influence over the high ball, and instead we got a budget Rio Dyer. While his ability to chase was impressive, he missed almost every opportunity he had to slow down the Pumas ball, and only made one linebreak compared to his great attacking form last Six Nations. Louis Rees-Zammit made much more of a positive impact in much less time.

  15: Blair Murray 5

  Another mixed bag; Murray has come under criticism for his lack of height limiting his aerial influence, and while I think he is technically solid in this area, he didn’t prove it here. Consistently pressured, his solid workrate on both sides of the ball saved him from a lower score.

  BENCH

  16: Liam Belcher 6

  Nice bench impact, as his usual workrate was felt more than most, but not enough to really turn any tides.

  17: Nicky Smith 6

  Better carrying performance than usual; he made more carries than Carré, weirdly enough. Not much impact at scrumtime though; Wales went backwards when Gallo came into play.

  18: Archie Griffin 6

  Same as Smith, though we’ve come to expect good carrying from Griffin.

  19: Freddie Thomas 5

  Unnoticed and mostly underwhelming, though he didn’t have the time to do much else.

  20: Olly Cracknell 5

  Showed how his carrying presence could help Wales, but only made 4. Smith and Griffin made more impact in a similar amount of time.

  21: Kieran Hardy N/A

  He played for about 5 minutes. I’m not petty enough to judge anyone for having no impact in that time

  22: Jarrod Evans 6

  No real drop-off compared to Edwards, nailed his one conversion, and worked well with Rees-Zammit on the outside.

  23: Louis Rees-Zammit 7

  The real bench impact of the game, but with 3 turnovers lost, he’s not exactly back to his best. Could’ve added an extra try to Wales’ tally to alleviate some of the negativity, but it wasn’t to be. If he starts the next game, I’ll be looking forward to it.

  2025.11.10

• Wales vs Argentina Preview – Autumn Nations

  Wales vs Argentina Preview – Autumn Nations

  The first game under what is hopefully a more optimistic era for Welsh rugby, yet it still seems as though there’s a looming sense of dread going into what is ultimately a very difficult run of fixtures. Argentina are fresh off of the Rugby Championship, where they scored wins against similarly hardened New Zealand and Australia sides, and their playstyle of wearing teams down with physical aggression and consistent aerial bombardment could be a serious challenge to a team still finding their feet under a new system.

  Then again, with pundits already writing Wales off, there isn’t really much for the hosts to lose here. They have just emerged from an 18 game losing streak against Tier 1 opposition, and apart from their second fixture against Japan, it’s difficult for anyone to objectively bet on a Welsh victory until next summer, with their Six Nations rivals all boasting more complete and established squads. With a new coaching setup and a new team, this is the perfect opportunity for Wales to show what’s changed since last year, where they can go from here, and how high their ceiling could reach.

  Argentina are one of the best teams to prove this; they aren’t as consistently dominant as South Africa and New Zealand, they aren’t an underwhelming milestone like Samoa or the USA, and they are a team we haven’t played since the World Cup, where there isn’t an expected “standard” of how Wales in their current state compare (like Australia or the Six Nations teams). With Tandy’s squad having a visible shape and a fairly clear gameplan, it will be interesting to see how much the squad has learned from this new coaching team.

  Last Time

  I won’t spend much time on this section given how much as changed since the last World Cup, but Wales did measure up fairly well to Argentina the last time they played. They still lost 17-29, but scored the same number of tries and remained in the game until the last 10 minutes. The area that really cost them was discipline; Argentina won off the back of 3 kicked penalties, and Wales were the less clinical in their execution overall.

  Luckily, discipline is not one of Argentina’s biggest strengths. Arguably, it’s their kryptonite; with such a passionate, physically oriented team, overextending is more or less expected. Wales don’t have the physicality to pressure Argentina, but if they maintain their breakdown control through Alex Mann and Jac Morgan, they could turn this loss on its head.

  Where the game will be won

  The aerial game and breakdown control. It’s a boring and simple point, but whoever controls these areas controls the attack, and when unleashed, both of these teams have very intimidating attacks. Argentina have kept Rodrigo Isgro – their best aerial operator – on the bench, so he’ll avoid Tom Rogers who will try to have a similar influence under the high ball. Both teams also have a similar number of kicking options, with Geronimo Prisciantelli and Santiago Carreras being as comfortable aiming for touch as Dan Edwards and Ben Thomas. But where Argentina may edge out is in the first phase; they have the larger forwards, and everyone from 4-8 is comfortable aggressively pursuing rucks

  If Wales are to win, however, they will most certainly target the lineout. With Adam Beard’s aerial skills, even Montoya’s consistent throwing could lead to turnover ball for Wales, and Dafydd Jenkins and Alex Mann are also dangerous jumpers. Kremer, meanwhile, is not a lineout jumper, so they’ll be relying on Pablo Matera and Juan Martin Gonzalez as jumpers alongside Guido Petti. Controlling the lineout could save or set up some crucial tries for Wales, especially with the danger of their rolling mauls and post-lineout carriers like Rhys Carré and Aaron Wainwright.

  Key Matchups

  1. Both teams like their mauls, but Julian Montoya and Dewi Lake are much more than ball carriers for their teams. Both are dominant around the park with their sheer passion and physicality, and in a game where Wales will want to target the lineout, every throw will need to be spot-on for both sides.
  2. Under the high ball, Santiago Carreras and Blair Murray are brilliant triple-threat counter-attackers who can seriously dent their opposition if left unchecked. Carreras has played most of the Championship as a fly-half, so his distribution will be on point, while Murray is infamously hard to stop in the narrow channels and will chase every opportunity he’s given.
  3. In the centres, Santiago Chocobares and Ben Thomas are both very intelligent players who are crucial to their team’s gameplans, but in terms of style, they couldn’t be more different. Chocobares is a post-contact demon who will want to carry into narrow channels and draw in defenders, choosing great lines where he can gain ground for the visitors. Thomas, meanwhile, is a master distributor and attack-controller, more than capable of leveraging opportunities himself, but is most comfortable manipulating defences to give outside threats space to wreak havoc.

  Other Players to Watch

  • Rhys Carré makes his return to Welsh rugby in place of Nicky Smith at 1. With Wales relatively limited carrying options, Tandy has selected him to carry hard from the front row. He’s in excellent form for Saracens right now, so his impact will be felt.
  • Olly Cracknell also debuts from the bench. Tandy is a big fan of his, with the two of them having worked together in the former’s Ospreys days, and if he replaces Wainwright, he’ll need to bring his trademark physicality and large size to dominate collisions.

  Prediction: Wales 20 – 29 Argentina

  The goal for Wales here is ultimately to instill hope for the future and find their identity on the world stage. A win is certainly possible, and would send tremors throughout World Rugby that they have returned as a force to be reckoned with, but Argentina’s physicality, form, and experience should be enough to wear them out by the 80-minute mark.

  2025.11.08

• My Team for Wales vs Argentina – Autumn Nations

  My Team for Wales vs Argentina

  First game of the international season for Steve Tandy’s Wales, and they’re up against an Argentine side fresh off of the Rugby Championship. Argentina may have finished 4th out of 4, but unlike Wales, they have been much more composed against the strongest opposition in the world; they’ve beaten New Zealand, Australia and the British and Irish Lions, though unlike last year, they couldn’t quite topple South Africa or score a win against a depleted England.

  Even with their opposition’s struggles, Wales are decidedly not favourites; barring all the weaknesses that have affected Welsh rugby in recent years, Argentina’s larger players and the quality of their experience will present a considerable challenge to Tandy’s men, who will still be adapting to playing a new system with new players. It’s a lot more winnable than New Zealand and South Africa however, so let’s delve into why & the team I would select to face Los Pumas.

  The Opposition:

  The last time Wales and Argentina played was in the quarter-final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where superior breakdown work won the latter the game. Since then, Argentina have been on a slow and inconsistent, but ultimately steady rise as their world class talents continue to gain experience and they being to claim consistent scalps against the Top 4, who seem much further out of reach for Wales. In the meantime, Wales have just broken out of a significant losing streak to restart their international campaign under a new coach, who has promised a new identity and a reinvigorated pack of players.

  In terms of players to watch out for, Tomas Albornoz has been injured since the Rugby Championship, but Santiago Carreras has stepped in to tidy up Los Pumas’ midfield, and his game management will be key if they are to dominate Wales. Argentina like to play behind a physically dominant pack through their dual-blindsides approach in Pablo Matera and Marcos Kremer, and I expect to see both players featuring here. Joaquin Oviedo usually completes the back-row, and his powerful ball-carrying is more than a match for players like Aaron Wainwright, while Rodrigo Isgro could be deployed on the wing, as his aerial dominance is world-class.

  As for weaknesses, Argentina had the weakest scrum of the Rugby Championship sides, though that’s hardly saying much against props like Ox Nche and Ethan de Groot. Aside from that, they’ve had a consistent issue with discipline on both sides of the ball. If Wales can force Argentina to overextend and concede penalties on defence, it can open opportunities to unlock their attack and take the points lead.

  Now, let’s move on to my team, designed to take on the blunt force and controlled aggression of Los Pumas.

  1: Nicky Smith

  Wales’ best scrummager, and his ability to punch above his weight and force scrum penalties from some of the best tightheads in the world makes him invaluable to Wales’ pack. He’s been in good form so far this domestic season, though less groundbreaking than last, and his performance against Ireland in the Six Nations showed how high his ceiling can get. 

  2: Dewi Lake

  Arguably Wales’ second best forward and leagues above their other options at hooker. Currently one of the leaders in the URC for most turnovers and a consistent carrier with ball in hand, Lake is excellent on both sides of the ball, and his usual weakness (lineout throwing) has improved considerably since the World Cup. Wales lack large and powerful carriers overall, so his presence will need to be felt if they are to win collisions.

  3: Archie Griffin

  This is the toughest call of the front row, as Griffin hasn’t really had as much gametime as the more in-form Kieron Assiratti or upcoming scrum threat Christian Coleman. However, having trained against players like Beno Obano and Thomas du Toit, Griffin is confident in his ability to handle some of the stronger looseheads in the world. His scrummaging isn’t the most consistent, but he’s a menace around the field and more than capable of making 20+ tackles in a game, and he’s a comfortable carrying option too. He’ll have his work cut out for him against a likely return for Thomas Gallo, but after holding off Ellis Genge in the PREM last season, it’s not crazy that he might win.

  4: Dafydd Jenkins

  Still one of Wales and Exeter’s best players. Not the flashiest carrier, but his workrate is well-proven at this point; 2nd most tackles in this year’s Six Nations, one of the leading carriers in the PREM this season, and usually plays 80 minutes for Exeter, able to fulfill the role of both an enforcer and a lineout taker. His large size and physicality should threaten Argentinian forwards with dominant tackles and turnovers, so I’d keep have him play the former role in this game.

  5: Adam Beard

  Since moving to Montpellier, Beard hasn’t lost his touch at the lineout. He’s one of the Top 14’s leading lineout takers, and having a player with that level of experience and confidence in the air will make it much easier to limit Argentina’s own dominance in this area. He’s just as good on defence too, reaching similar tackle success rates as Jenkins, and his maul defence especially will be valuable. Julian Montoya is arguably Argentina’s best player, and restraining his ability to control the maul and lineout will be critical if Wales are to perform an upset.

  6: Freddie Thomas

  I had a really tough time with this spot; Taine Plumtree is an excellent player with a really high ceiling, but his discipline this season has really cost him here. With the other two back row spots relatively clear cut, a strong lineout forward who can carry with more athleticism in wider channels will be required. As I’m less fussed about Wainwright and Cracknell’s skills in the breakdown, I’ve selected Freddie Thomas, who can make line brakes with some serious pace and consistency while still clearing out rucks and generating turnovers where needed.

  7: Jac Morgan

  Duh, he’s the captain. Most tackles in this year’s Six Nations, strong at the breakdown and in carrying, and more than capable of starting and finishing some brilliant attacking plays. On the Lions Tour, he was used primarily to hit defensive rucks and make turnovers, and I think this is where he should focus his efforts for Wales as well. While he can perform anywhere Wales need him to (except the lineout), he’s had to wear a lot of hats throughout the Gatland era, and having players around him who can relieve some of that pressure should bring out his world-class potential.

  8: Aaron Wainwright

  The best carrier in the squad, in both wide and narrow channels. The latter will be his main focus, though his pace and ability to beat defenders will force Argentina to dedicate a lot of resources to contain him wherever he arrives. Less dominant on defence, but that’s why I’ve selected the other two back rowers alongside him, giving him room to play the game that won him Men Player of the Year in 2024. Arguably the in-form back rower in Wales, his place somewhere in the back row is pretty much inevitable.

  9: Tomos Williams

  The other Lion. Not quite at the same level of form for Gloucester as last season, but still one of their better players, and should bring his PREM-honed skills to the forefront with an improved Wales pack. A serious triple-threat, his kicking has improved in recent seasons, and he’s made some really elite assists and tries over the last year. As a newly-appointed captain, he should also bring some leadership to the midfield.

  10: Dan Edwards

  Fly-half selection is a battle between experience and talent. Edwards may not have the multi-season, silverware-winning experience of Evans or Sheedy, but he’s already proven to have a lot of potential at this level of rugby, and the more pronounced weaknesses of the other two fly-halves should give way to more starting caps for the Osprey. Another triple-threat, he can work well with Sherratt’s attack system by carrying through gaps or finding space for other threats, and he was certainly confident doing this against Japan.

  11: Josh Adams

  Tom Rogers may have a more solid aerial game, but Adams brings more form and experience to balance things out. A strong player in contact, he should still be able to contain Isgro defensively, while ability to select excellent lines on attack will keep the Argentinians on their toes. He may end up moving to 13 if injuries become a concern, but he’s comfortably the best winger on defence, and provided he keeps a level head, should make a solid impact in this game.

  12: Ben Thomas

  Never feels easy choosing centres for Wales, as none have really made a mark, but Thomas is the most likely. Yet another triple threat, he’s been instrumental to Sherratt’s attack at Cardiff and Wales, and his game-reading skills and experience should enable him to exploit gaps with lethal precision. Hawkins is a similarly good option, but Thomas’ established position and greater impact so far this season gives him the edge.

  13: Max Llewellyn

  With less competition at 13, Llewellyn’s established partnership with Thomas should make for an effective weapon on attack. One of the few backs who can really get Wales over the gainline, he can carry into traffic or shift out wide to break through the Argentinian defence. Like Tomos, he also hasn’t really made the same impact as last season (injury hasn’t helped his case), but his high ceiling is evident.

  14: Louis Rees-Zammit

  It should feel good to see a healthy Rees-Zammit back in the squad. His pace alone makes him an incredibly dangerous player, and combined with his increased bulk from his time in the NFL’s training program, Mateo Carreras will have a tough time taking him on. In his limited time for Bristol, he’s covered 15 and 14, and added some seriously brilliant tries to his portfolio. Provided he’s upped his contact game, his impact on both sides of the ball will be invaluable.

  15: Blair Murray

  He’s been one of Wales’ best players this season, and I see no reason to take him out now. Even with the Argentinians’ aerial prowess, Murray is as good as a player of his size reasonably can be under the high ball, and his counterattacking game will make the opposition think twice about kicking to his side of the field. Much stronger defences than Argentina’s have struggled to deal with Murray, and his talent for beating defenders and setting up threats out wide will get Wales’ attack firing

  BENCH

  16: Liam Belcher

  Brodie Coghlan is a player I think is highly underrated, and this really just comes down to size versus form. With how large my bench already is, I think Belcher’s reliable work around the field and similar leadership ability to Lake will be more valuable. With, admittedly, twice the number of carries as Coghlan, he’s made 100 additional meters in post-contact, so he should be more than capable of scoring tries out of the maul.

  17: Rhys Carre

  Like Rees-Zammit, this return should be felt. Carre is an exceptional carrier whose enormous size and serious pace should obliterate opposing defenders, and should more than make up for Wainwright or Lake leaving just after half-time. Adding that much mass to the pack will also make room for some more agile carriers off the bench, and his offensive skills will create numerous opportunities to deal damage.

  18: Christian Coleman

  A bold choice, but like Carre, Coleman’s size and carrying skills edge out Assiratti, especially given his stronger form in Japan. Adam Jones has acknowledged how his scrummaging hasn’t really reached its full potential, and the like-minded Duncan Jones should help him unlock that innate skill similarly to how Duncan worked on Tomos Francis. His limited rugby might hold him back, so like Griffin, it may come down to how much he’s trained.

  19: Ben Carter

  Rhys Davies and James Fender are more specialised, but I’ve selected Carter for his defensive prowess and versatile skillset. He can operate as both a lineout taker or an enforcer, as he has for Dragons so far, and was especially impressive against Ulster and Cardiff. He was a valuable up-and-comer before injury took him out of the squad, and I see no reason to hold him back from returning to the fold.

  20: Alex Mann

  Not the largest back-rower, but arguably the most in-form blindside in Wales. Being able to work the lineout and frustrate much larger men at the breakdown, his athleticism should make him a consistent nuisance on both sides of the ball. Covering both 6 and 7 also gives him an edge over the larger Plumtree as well, in addition to his similar try-scoring rate, and he’s proven a solid aerial operator under Sherratt’s system in the past.

  21: Olly Cracknell

  With how strong Argentina’s pack is, I think a 6-2 split is the right call, and Cracknell brings all of Wainwright’s powerful carrying off the bench to generate meters and set up finishes, assuming he doesn’t barrel over himself. The heaviest of the backrowers, his size will balance out the lighter Mann and Morgan, and that plus the quality of his domestic experience gives him the advantage over the similarly uncapped Morse

  22: Reuben Morgan-Williams

  Between the two Ospreys scrum-halves, it’s a close call. Hardy has much more international experience and more frequently starts for the club when both are healthy, but RMW was much more solid against Japan and has had a lot more rugby in the lead up to the tour following Hardy’s rib injury.

  23: Nick Tompkins

  RMW made solid coverage on the wings against Japan, so with Thomas being able to play 10 or 15 in a pinch, choosing a centre as coverage would be optimal. Tompkins is comfortably the in-form centre, playing the most minutes of the 12s and earning MotM against Newcastle while being very reliable on both sides of the ball, especially defence. A clutch turnover or linebreak might be the difference maker for Wales, and while Tompkins hasn’t been the most reliable at this level, a new coaching structure might bring out his best rugby.

  2025.11.02

• My Wales Team – Autumn Series 2025

  My Wales Team – Autumn Series 2025

  Steve Tandy definitely has his work cut out for him. After Sheratt’s short-lived tenure broke the losing streak with an eventual win over Japan, there at least remains some hope that the more experienced Tandy could make something out of the Welsh side over the next few seasons of international rugby. While the top 5 is out of the question, Wales should aim to be competitive with the bottom half of the top 10, as Fiji and Italy have failed to really break into that higher tier where Wales usually sit and Scotland struggle to reach above their usual ceiling. 

  Unfortunately, it seems World Rugby’s schedule generator has something against Wales once again; two fixtures against Rugby Championship heavyweights New Zealand and South Africa look unachievable, while Argentina only seem to be improving. Still, coming away from these fixtures with any credit at all might set Wales up for the next Six Nations, as though they were inevitably blown away by a blossoming England side, there were flashes of the kind of Wales team that could climb back to those aforementioned heights.

  I’ll be breaking down my squad selection for the Autumn international series, noting what I think Steve Tandy might pick based on previous selection patterns as well as international and club form of individual players. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get into it.

  General Playstyle:

  Tandy’s backroom was initially defined by the appointment of Matt Sherratt as attack coach and Danny Wilson as forwards coach. Both of these players have experience with the Cardiff system, and were previously the head coaches of teams with fast-paced, playmaker-focused attacking strategies (Cardiff and Harlequins respectively). While Sherratt might not cause too many Cardiff players to be selected on his influence alone, it’s likely Tandy will pick players that will fit this attacking strategy. With two kicking coaches in the form of Rhys Patchell and Neil Jenkins, you’d expect more than one kicking option in some matchday 23s.

  Dan Lydiate’s chop-tackling knowledge will likely be the reason behind his selection; Tandy usually varies his defensive strategies based on the teams he is playing, as shown during his experience as defence coach of Scotland. With a team like Wales, which can fit turnover specialists in just about every position, players who are good jackalers may also be prioritised among the forwards over hard-carriers; of course, both are needed.

  Finally, Wales have struggled under Gatland to employ 6-2 splits due to a lack of experience and versatility in the side. Tandy and Wilson don’t usually play with teams that employ these tactics, but they are not foreign to them. If 6-2 splits are employed, as would be justified against physical-oriented sides like Argentina and South Africa, some utility backs will be needed.

  Props:

  Duncan Jones as a scrum coach has typically valued scrummaging props ahead of ones who are stronger around the field, as Wales has usually employed in the past. His appointment is probably too late to influence selection, but in an area where Wales have struggled in the past, it’s possible we could see some changes here.

  Then again, Nicky Smith is pretty safe on loosehead; he’s Wales’ best scrummager and frequently punches above his weight. Though not in the best form lately, he has more than enough credit to start. Gareth Thomas’ chop-tackling work compliments Wales’ turnover specialists, so he’s a pretty safe bench pick and starter for the South Africa test. As for the third pick, with the other two into their 30s now, a younger option would be preferred. Rhys Barrett is dynamic and powerful for Cardiff, but his lack of experience at senior level and inconsistent scrummaging holds him back for me. Kemsley Mathias has struggled to impose himself in the Scarlets otherwise strong scrum, so I’d pick Garyn Phillips for being the best balance between the two.

  As for the tightheads… uh, one of them? It’s the same story as always; Wales don’t have a lot to work with here. Archie Griffin is probably safe, as despite his awkward scrummaging, it’s shown signs of improvement and he’s the only consistent international tighthead we’ve seen. Kieron Assiratti has had a decent start to the season, and Henry Thomas’ experience in the successful Scarlets scrum might be enough to dissuade concerns about his recent form.

  None of these are particularly destructive scrummagers, though and it’s possible Tandy could select an entirely different setup. Ben Warren and Sam Wainwright are larger men who have functioned well at the set piece before, and have been around the international camps enough to be on the watchlist for the coaching squad. There are risks to both approaches, and with how much Tandy could change elsewhere, I think he might just opt to work on the incumbents for now.

  My Choices: Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Garyn Phillips, Archie Griffin, Henry Thomas, Kieron Assiratti

  Injury Cover: Rhys Barratt, Ben Warren

  Hookers:

  An easier selection. Dewi Lake is one of Wales’ best players, and brings both leadership and physicality to the front row; he plays with the dynamism and defensive workrate of a backrower, and is instrumental to one of Wales’ strongest weapons in the driving maul. After that, Elliot Dee is the incumbent replacement for a reason; he’s more reliable in the fundamentals, as Lake’s lineout darts aren’t exactly world-class, and does his job consistently. However, he was injured in his region’s match against Ulster, and injury might limit his gametime.

  Liam Belcher is a clear-cut replacement for his defensive solidarity and better darts, but with Jones’ appointment at scrum coach, his larger teammate Evan Lloyd might be preferred. Though not Cardiff’s starter, he is a player with a high-ceiling who has improved upon his return from an awkward Six Nations campaign, and I think to maintain the integrity of the pack against some of the world’s largest forwards, Lloyd might be preferred in the initial squad.

  My Choices: Dewi Lake, Elliot Dee, Evan Lloyd

  Injury Cover: Liam Belcher

  Locks:

  Thankfully, a more well-stocked position for Wales, though this does mean good players will miss out. To start, Dafydd Jenkins and Adam Beard are clear-cut inclusions; Jenkins’ workrate is frankly absurd, and his well-rounded skillset and leadership makes it easy to forget he’s only 22 years old; on the other hand, Beard is a lineout specialist with much more experience than Wales’ other options, and mirrors the kind of locks that Jenkins usually pairs with. However, with both based outside of Wales, the remaining options will need to be closer to home for the South Africa test.

  Initially, Teddy Williams’ lineout skills and athleticism would have made him the ideal bench pick to partner the other two, but his ankle injury will cause him to miss the campaign, which complicates things a lot. None of the other locks are as dominant in the lineout, so his loss will be notable. A player who is returning from injury however is Ben Carter, who’s been one of the Dragons’ best players in recent years and his defensive capabilities are unmatched among the locks. Being able to act as either an enforcer or lineout taker makes him more versatile than other options off the bench, and his proven international ability gives him another edge.

  For the South Africa game, set-piece dominance will be huge. While James Ratti’s bench versatility or Matthew Screech’s experience could be valuable, Rhys Davies has had a solid season since returning for the Ospreys from his injury crisis, while James Fender’s lineout skills will be very valuable in the absence of Teddy Williams, and he deserves his first cap after so long on the sidelines.

  My Choices: Dafydd Jenkins, Adam Beard, Ben Carter, Rhys Davies, James Fender

  Injury Cover: James Ratti, Matthew Screech

  Back-Row:

  One of Wales’ strengths; the back-row has 4 man depth in all positions and has a solid blend of youth and experience, as well as different skillsets that make it hard to pick only 6. Still, Jac Morgan, Taulupe Faletau and Aaron Wainwright all have earned their constant call-ups and are almost certain to retain their positions in the squad for the time being, assuming the first two recover from injuries in time.

  Tommy Reffell had a slower start to the season, but his past international form will keep him firmly in the reserve openside jersey. Speaking of past internationals, Ross Moriarty’s solid form for the Ospreys and role as a physical enforcer makes him a natural blindside flanker, while his presence at the lineout would be instrumental alongside Morgan’s non-jumping. With Taine Plumtree struggling for form, he takes his spot despite the Scarlets man’s athleticism.

  For the last choice, it’s between two young players who have had solid starts; Alex Mann and Morgan Morse. Mann is a better breakdown and lineout operator who can generate turnovers and whose workrate and athleticism more than compensates for his smaller size; he’s more of a one-to-one replacement for Reffell. Morse, meanwhile, is more of an aggressive carrier, who doesn’t back down even against very physical teams like the Stormers or Bulls, but could be considered excess requirements with the presence of Faletau and Wainwright. Given both players will be available for the South Africa test, it’s harder to justify his inclusion unless the former gets injured again, but his time will likely come sooner rather than later

  My Choices: Jac Morgan, Taulupe Faletau, Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell, Ross Moriarty, Alex Mann

  Injury Cover: Taine Plumtree, Morgan Morse, Alun Lawrence

  Scrum-Half:

  Tomos Williams is a British and Irish Lion now, so that’s an easy decision there. As Gloucester’s new captain, his team hasn’t kicked off yet, but his ceiling is high and proven at international level. After him, however, is where things become more open-ended. Kieran Hardy and Rhodri Williams are both experienced players who’ve been in and out of the Wales jersey over the past year or so, while Reuben Morgan-Williams was capped over the summer. All are in good form for their clubs, so it comes down to how Tandy wants to play.

  On top of being the younger option, RMW showed his potential in the second Japan test that was overlooked by Gatland, and his kicking game is more utilised than club-mate Hardy, who had a more polarising summer. The Ospreys prefer Hardy, for his ability to run strong support lines and finish plays a bit better than RMW, but it really comes down to what Tandy wants to do. Rhodri is more of a complete package; he tends to kick a lot for the Dragons and his game-management skills suit a slower kick-chase game, while retaining an ability to make good breaks through weakened defences. I think the other two make better impact players for Tomos, though any combination of the 3 could work.

  My Choices: Tomos Williams, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Kieran Hardy

  Injury Cover: Rhodri Williams

  Fly Half:

  A problem position for Wales in the past, but I think we’re starting to figure it out, unlike tighthead and centre. Dan Edwards has been in great form for the Ospreys over the past few seasons, and in the second Japan test, he showed what he could bring to an international jersey. As a great triple-threat, he would suit a Matt Sherratt attacking system very well.

  The actual question for this section is who would partner him. Sam Costelow has been the other main fly-half for Wales recently, but he’s struggled to succeed Dan Biggar as intended due to his struggling confidence and game management. Despite the controversy, I think he’s a fine player, but not what Wales need right now. As similar, but more experienced fly-halves to Edwards, I think it might come down to either Jarrod Evans or Callum Sheedy.

  Both are actually very similar in stats, are attack-minded operators, and by playing for Harlequins and Cardiff respectively, they are both familiar with the existing coaching setup. Evans has had a more recent call-up in the Six Nations, but Sheedy has had better form at club level this season, though his kicking at the tee is a concern. It depends if Tandy wants a second out-and-out fly-half available for the South Africa test

  My Choices: Dan Edwards, Jarrod Evans

  Injury Cover: Callum Sheedy

  Centres:

  Given the inclusion of Matt Sherratt as attack coach, I think it’s likely that Tandy will employ a Cardiff-style centre combination to guide the attack. Ben Thomas is this man for both Cardiff and Wales, and is the safest bet for inclusion given his incumbent status, solid international performances, and unique skillset. Even if he isn’t the starting 12, being able to play 10 and 15 too gives him bench versatility few players can compete with.

  He’s usually partnered with Max Llewellyn, who offers a larger carrying option and fits the Cardiff mold of attack well, as Gloucester use him similarly. Plus, his versatility by being able to cover 12, 11, and 14 is a huge bonus in the absence of Mason Grady. With Owen Watkin injured, 13 options are very limited, but Joe Roberts has retained solid form in an otherwise struggling Scarlets team. Harri Millard has also added some better defensive and game-reading work to his usual attacking prowess, bringing him closer to an international-standard centre, while Louis Hennessey’s size makes him an outside bet.

  For 12s, Kieran Williams’ great form for the Ospreys should see him get in minus injuries, and while smaller than Johnny Williams, he’s quicker and makes good line breaks. Williams started both Japan tests at 13, and is probably being included for his strength and versatility, but hasn’t really impressed me at international level yet. Nick Tompkins is also in great form for the Saracens, and his defensive skill and experience will be helpful in a relatively inexperienced backline. Like Johnny Williams, he can also cover 13 if needed, though he won’t be available for the South Africa test. It comes down to whether Tandy prefers power or finesse if he opts for a fifth centre.

  My Choices: Ben Thomas, Max Llewellyn, Kieran Williams, Joe Roberts

  Injury Cover: Johnny Williams, Harri Millard

  Wings:

  One of the higher-quality areas of the Wales squad, with a nice blend of youth and experience and multiple players. Josh Adams and Tom Rogers are the incumbents from Japan, and they have had more than enough positives this year to retain their places. A lot of question marks hang over Louis Rees-Zammit’s injury against Saracens, and he might at least miss the start of the tour, but ever since he’s returned from the NFL, he’s been excellent for Bristol and should quickly return to his best rugby for Wales.

  Mason Grady’s physicality and bench versatility would be great here if he wasn’t injured, so one of the more recent call ups will make it instead of him and/or Rees-Zammit. Keelan Giles was excellent in Japan and has had a solid run of form for the Ospreys this season, and is a player who really should have more caps than he does. Tom Bowen is another similar winger, who is less experienced but has had an even better run of form for Cardiff. He’s young, but his X-factor might just be enough to win him a call up.

  Ellis Mee was very good in the Six Nations despite also lacking on the experience front, while Rio Dyer might be hard done by to have seemingly dropped as far down the pecking order as he has. Players like Millard, Hennessey, and Jacob Beetham could also be surprise picks on the wing. Someone of quality will miss out either way, so it depends on Tandy and Sherratt’s attack plan.

  My Choices: Josh Adams, Tom Rogers, Louis Rees-Zammit, Tom Bowen

  Injury Cover: Keelan Giles, Ellis Mee

  Fullback:

  Very straightforward here, thankfully. Blair Murray is one of Wales’ most valuable players right now; his aerial game is solid despite his small size, and his footwork, game-reading, and pace make him a deadly counterattacker. He really doesn’t play like someone of his level of experience, so he’s very safe. Fullback might not be his preferred position, but in the short-term I think we leave him here.

  As for the second choice, Cam Winnett is very consistent and has the necessary skills, though his defence has struggled in the past at international level. Still, his skill under the high ball and established portfolio make him the likely second choice. Huw Anderson is still emerging, though he’s made a decent start, while Liam Williams hasn’t really had much opportunity to earn a call-up compared to the rest, though his experience is valuable with how limited that is in this position.

  My Choices: Blair Murray, Cameron Winnett

  Injury Cover: Liam Williams

  Utility Back:

  One last spot to go, and if 6-2 splits need to be deployed against Argentina and South Africa, a utility back will be valuable to fit in at multiple positions. Capped players such as Ioan Lloyd and Ben Thomas have the versatility to fill that 23 jersey, but they’ve mostly played at 10 or 12 respectively this season. Angus O’Brien has been fairly solid for the Dragons lately, while Joe Hawkins’ return to the Scarlets has had him playing a lot more 10 than 12, where he’s looked very comfortable.

  But ultimately, Jacob Beetham has had them beat in versatility. Covering for Cardiff’s injured players like Mason Grady and Theo Cabango, as well Ben Thomas’ suspension, he’s fitted in 4 different positions in 4 games (12, 13, 14, 15), and barring some discipline issues at 13, he’s been solid in all of them. Plus, he’s a goal kicker and Gatland even viewed him as a fly-half, a position he has played in the past. I don’t think he’s an international starter yet, but with the number of injuries in the squad, his flexibility and defensive consistency give him a unique role that opens up some more combinations and keeps the squad harder to predict.

  My Pick: Jacob Beetham

  Injury Cover: An extra centre or fly-half

  Summary

  Overall, it’s hard to pick apart selections when we can’t be entirely sure on how Tandy will shape Wales’ identity. A fast and free-flowing style with plenty of jackal threats for defensive work makes sense, and closely aligns with both Cardiff and Harlequins’ identities, but at international rugby, flexibility and power are needed; that was what Sherratt struggled with in the interim period. Areas of weakness like the props and 13 could see entirely new players and combinations called up to better fit with systems that don’t officially exist yet, and while I think most of my picks will align with Tandy’s, it remains to be seen how the national side’s playstyle will take shape.

  Even though I’m largely optimistic about our coaching appointments and player pool, expecting more than a win against Japan feels like too much to dream. Still, identifying our strengths will give us a platform for the next Six Nations and hopefully avoid a third Wooden Spoon. Rebuilding Welsh Rugby is a monumental task, but once the WRU’s plan for the regional game has been set, this series should show us the way forward.

  2025.10.19

• Welsh URC Week 3 Preview

  URC Week 3 Preview

  Scarlets vs Stormers

  Out of rhythm after their Week 2 match was cancelled due to bad weather, the Scarlets will need to develop their last season form as soon as possible if they are to replicate their playoff success. Injuries to Jake Ball and Josh Macleod will make this tricky, as their first match back will be against a Springbok-boosted Stormers side. The men from Cape Town are arguably the form team in the league, and that was before the return of Sacha Feinburg-Mngomezulu and Damien Willemse. This could get ugly if the Scarlets don’t pick up quickly.

  Interestingly, the visitors have rested some of their front-row starters, which should alleviate pressure from Alec Hepburn and Henry Thomas at the scrum. Expecting the Scarlets to win it outright is bold, but their forwards will need to win ball as much as possible to slow down the destructive Stormers backs. In turn, Blair Murray and Ellis Mee are significant threats to the Stormers’ defence, and both wingers’ aerial skills will pressure their back three under the high ball.

  While the Stormers are unsurprising favourites, there is an elephant in the room; the Stormers have only won two away fixtures in the past 12 months, and as the Ospreys have shown recently, the Welsh regions can certainly challenge them with the home advantage. Whoever keeps the most possession and controls the aerial game should take this, as they are fairly evenly-matched in terms of the quality of their attacks, but one has been firing much more consistently.

  Key Matchup: Joe Hawkins needs to prove he can play the 10 jersey at this level, as going up against world-class rising star Sacha FM will test his game management and supporting skills.

  Players to Watch: Taine Plumtree’s work at the breakdown and in carrying will be instrumental in creating a platform for the hosts’ backs to claim points. Damien Willemse was at his best in the Rugby Championship, and his superior experience could set up another Try of the Season, like the lst time this fixture happened.

  Predicted Score: Scarlets 26 – 35 Stormers The hosts should get going and show how dangerous they can be when momentum is in their favour, but the Stormers are just too strong. The Scarlets’ slow starts might simply give the visitors’ too much to work with, and they simply don’t have enough answers to Sacha FM. The scoreline could be much closer, and given that they beat the Bulls last season, it’s not impossible for the Scarlets to pull off an upset, but they don’t have a lot of cards here.

  2025.10.09

• Welsh URC Week 2 Preview

  URC Week 2 Preview

  Stormers vs Ospreys

  Yet another South African matchup for the Ospreys, and this one goes up against a side that they’ve actually done quite well against in recent fixtures, winning both previous against the Stormers including away at the DHL. On the other hand, the Stormers have only lost one game at home since then, even against teams much more dangerous than the Opreys, so I’m not too keen on the latter’s chances in spite of their record.

  Against the Bulls, the Ospreys threw caution to the wind and played fast and aggressive, but unlike their Pretoria rivals, the Stormers can do that too with the likes of Leolin Zas and Seabelo Senatla. Like the Bulls, however, the Stormers love a good scrum, and new Springbok Neethling Fouche is more than a match for the returning Gareth Thomas. This will probably come down to who gets to control tempo, and Jurie Matthee will be riding the form of his previous game against Leinster.

  It’s not as though the Ospreys are outclassed; the Stormers are simply very strong even without their current internationals and have more cards in their favour. A game in Cape Town makes them the favourites to take it, but if the Ospreys backline can get firing as well as last week, a different story could emerge. It’s possible we’ll have a high-scoring game on our hands either way, if last week was anything to go by.

  Key Matchup: Emerging Springbok Evan Roos, one of the Stormers’ most consistent players, against experienced Welshman Ross Moriarty, who will look to dominate collisions after a relatively quiet match last week.

  Players to Watch: Harri Deaves was everywhere last week, making 18 tackles and 2 try assists, and should continue to be a thorn in the hosts’ side. Similarly, Jurie Matthee is currently the league’s top points scorer and will try to control his team’s momentum to overwhelm the Ospreys.

  Predicted Score: Stormers 40 – 28 Ospreys. The Stormers are a much faster and more aggressive attacking side than the physically-oriented Bulls, and should be able to match the Ospreys’ tempo better for a similar scoreline to last week. But it could be a lot closer, and may come down to who gets the last try; I think the Stormers just have stronger and more varied options and better consistency.

  Dragons vs Sharks

  A very important game for the Men from Gwent; though improved last week, they still don’t quite have the edge to close out games, and Ulster were an incredibly dangerous side. The Sharks may be popular with pundits, but minus their Springboks, they’re not the same team that’s matched the top sides blow-for-blow and haven’t won away since edging out Ulster in Ravenhill last year. If there was a game to make a statement victory, it’s this one.

  While they may not have won last time, a score of 30-33  won by an 84th minute try certainly makes the hosts look capable. A lot of returning players have returned from that fixture, but the Dragons’ improved scrum under Wyn Jones and Robert Hunt will look to be more competitive. That could be a difference maker, but I don’t want to be harsh on the B-team Sharks; they were solid against Glasgow in Scotstoun off the back of Springboks Edwill van der Merwe and Vincent Tshituka, who will be equally scary here.

  This is probably a close game; Tiatia has promised to make Rodney Parade a fortress for the weaker sides, and while calling the Sharks “weak” isn’t fair or accurate, the reality is that they aren’t invincible; as a team, they’ve been marred by inconsistency and a lack of depth, so who wins this will come down to which pack wins the breakdown and gains possession.

  Key Matchup: Two internationals, Aaron Wainwright and Vincent Tshituka, will aim to carry the ball over the line with their strong physical presences. Expect opposing defenders to focus on taking them down specifically.

  Players to Watch: Fine Inisi makes his first start for the hosts, and will need to be fast to break lines and make scores. Edwill van der Merwe is playing the less familiar position of fullback, but with his footwork, he could make some dangerous counterattacks.

  Predicted Score: Dragons 24 – 21 Sharks. Maybe I’m just being sentimental and optimistic, as I genuinely think the Dragons can do this and they realistically need to to invigorate their squad going forward. Both sides can be dangerous at the breakdown, and they’ve elected to maximise size to achieve this. It’ll come down to whether the Dragons can shake their losing mentality or whether the Sharks can end the away drought.

  Munster vs Cardiff

  Fixtures like these are the reason Cardiff needed that win over the Lions last week; while they can certainly win against Munster at home, away is a different story. Munster are incredibly hard to beat at Thomond Park, and while they may be missing Craig Casey and Tadhg Beirne, they are a side that can more than match Cardiff on defence and overpower them physically, which is never a fun time for the capital side. The visitors have never won here in 11 attempts, though there are ways they could turn this around.

  If they’re going to overcome the hosts’ physicality, they’ll need to win at the breakdown through Alex Mann and Dan Thomas. Maintaining possession forces Munster on the defence, where they are very strong, but players like Tom Bowen and Josh Adams will frustrate them out wide. Johan Mulder might fancy his chances to attack out of the scrum too; if they keep the ball moving fast, they should be able to score a few tries, though the lack of Ben Thomas will hurt their kicking options.

  They’ll need to survive the scrum and maintain discipline too, which will be no easy task given Cardiff’s persistent weaknesses in this area. But with players like Ioan Lloyd and Taine Basham coming off the bench, they should at least be consistent in attack all game. Given how well-rounded a side Munster are, Cardiff can’t really afford a slip-up anywhere, as the world-class Jack Crowley and physical presence of Thomas Ahern and Gavin Coombes will gladly take advantage of missed opportunities.

  Key Matchup: Alun Lawrence, arguably Cardiff’s most underrated player with his excellent carrying and persistent defence, against Gavin Coombes, Ireland international who has a similar reputation among Munster fans.

  Players to Watch: Jacob Beetham makes a rare start for Cardiff and will aim to match Cameron Winnett’s consistency in the position. Similarly, Ethan Coughlan will try to maintain the pace and footwork of Craig Casey, to keep Munster’s tempo out of the breakdown.

  Predicted Score: Munster 28 – 14 Cardiff. Not an easy fixture for the visitors, and a more realistic goal would be to come away with some sort of bonus point. Munster are a contender for the top 4, and while their lack of experience might mean they fall short of that goal, they have more than enough power to put Cardiff to the sword. Winning something from this will be a statement from Cardiff.

  2025.10.02

• Welsh URC Week 1 Review

  URC WEEK 1 REVIEW

  Ulster vs Dragons: 42-21

  In the battle of the improved teams, both sides at least showed signs of growth, but it was clear who had the higher ceiling to push. The Dragons simply lack the same winning nous of the men from Northern Ireland, as they were outmatched in most areas of the field despite making them work for it in the early stages of the game.

  An incredibly lucky Aaron Wainwright try put the visitors in front, but it was soon followed up by one of Ulster’s trademark mauls that gave Cormac Izuchukwu the hosts’ first score. From there, they traded blows fairly well for 30 minutes, as the Dragons’ poor scrum has notably improved under Wyn Jones and Robert Hunt, but it wouldn’t last forever; three tries just before half time pushed Ulster into a lead they wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the game.

  Does this mean Dragons are fated to repeat the mistakes of last season? I wouldn’t call that so soon; they still looked a much better side than their slow and sad games last year, Ulster were simply much better and nearer to their past dominance over the league, barring some awkward passes. But overall, the men from Gwent will still need to work on their discipline and defence if they want to climb up the leaderboard

  Notable Players: Aaron Wainwright was great around the park even excluding his lucky early try, as he made consistent offensive gains for the side. Shane Lewis-Hughes continues his form as one of the more underrated forwards in Welsh rugby, and Rhodri Williams’ and Angus O’Brien’s decision making helped test Ulster’s defence

  Score: I’d say about 6.5/10. The Dragons were generally outplayed, lacking consistency and discipline, but as Tiatia alluded to in his post-match interview, there is something to build on; last season’s Dragons would’ve been routed much harder.

  Bulls vs Ospreys: 53-40

  A solid all-around performance given the cards were firmly stacked against the Ospreys here. The first half was actually a mostly even contest, as the Ospreys controlled the breakdown and were able to move the ball wide for Keelan Giles to score and for Keiran Williams to add on some more points from the Bulls’ weakened defence. But the second half was the difference maker; the visitors simply couldn’t match the bench impact of the hosts as their depth was tested against one of the URCs most physical teams.

  For a player who wouldn’t normally make the side’s starting XV, Deaves was excellent, bringing his trademark workrate on both sides of the ball, with 18 tackles and two try assists. His sheer determination actually cost him, as he was penalised 4 times, but he certainly had an impact on the Ospreys’ chances. Rhys Davies and Dewi Lake were also great in defence, the latter especially with 2 turnovers despite generally being outmatched by Grobelaar. This all led to the Ospreys leading for most of the first half, but it quickly unravelled as the hosts gained a 20 point lead in decisive fashion.

  While notably improved compared to past away games in Pretoria, the Ospreys will need to tidy up discipline and avoid the same defensive and lineout issues that gave the Bulls too much possession and leaked points. They were largely overpowered in the scrum, losing 2 on their own put-in, and while these are to be expected from the hosts, with a game against the Stormers next on the agenda, they will almost certainly target the same areas if the Ospreys don’t improve.

  Notable Players: Harri Deaves, as mentioned earlier, brought an exceptional workrate and should make the starting XV in Jac Morgan’s absence. Dan Kasende made a similar effort on both sides of the ball, though his opposing winger Giles racked up more points. Morgan Morse has also built on his work from last season with a commanding starting performance.

  Score: Feels harsh given their opposition, but 7.5/10. They’ll need to tidy up on their defence, but once they do, this Ospreys side look well-poised to push for playoffs, especially when they return to Wales and bring back more of their usual starters.

  Scarlets vs Munster: 21-34

  A very slow start cost the Scarlets, who simply couldn’t get into the game against a Munster side which outplayed them in the scrum and under the high ball.  The hosts really missed Marnus and Lousi as they were overpowered by Munster’s defence and physicality, unable to generate anything from Blair Murray’s clean breaks and Sam Costelow’s otherwise solid kicking tactics.

  That said, the second half was a lot better, as they traded blows with Munster much more consistently. Ellis Mee capitalised on a great opportunity following Murray’s initial try after the break, but the Scarlets’ best player was definitely Taine Plumtree, with a great intercept to score the hosts’ third and final try. With their efforts, they scored the same number of points as the opposition in the second half, but it ultimately wasn’t enough.

  The Scarlets just didn;t have the same dynamism that carried them to playoffs last season, but hopefully they regain that momentum sooner rather than later. Defensively, Munster suffocated them and countered most of their kicks, while they in turn simply lacked answers to Munster’s own wide ball as players like Abrahams and Nankivell set up tries. With an away game to Connacht next on the schedule, it looks to be a tough first few weeks for the Scarlets.

  Notable Players: Taine Plumtree was the region’s best performer as he carried his way through opposing defenders, scoring a well-deserved try after reading Munster’s attack. Sam Costelow struggled defensively, but he and Gareth Davies made some great kicks that pressured Munster’s backs and made a great break for Murray’s try. Barring one missed throw, Harry Thomas also looked solid at the lineout for the region’s third choice and made a great defensive effort.

  Score: Hard to call, I’ll say 7/10. The first half was poor, but in the second half they weren’t far off one of the league’s most complete teams, and there were plenty of bright sparks to work off of when closer matchups come around. Once they gel, they could have another great season.

  Cardiff vs Lions: 33-20

  The only region to score a win in week 1, and yet, there remain some concerns for the capital side. Still, not a lot takes away from a bonus point win to start the season, and a very strong performance by several key players, some returning and some new, will give them confidence going into a new season without the architect that is Matt Sherratt.

  The main takeaway at the 80 minute mark for me was wondering why Alun Lawrence was MotM; not because he didn’t deserve it, but because there were so many candidates that it was easy to miss his typical dominant carries. Cam Winnett and Callum Sheedy brilliantly controlled the host’s momentum in a game where they desperately needed it, while Taine Basham and Alex Mann were a constant frustration at the breakdown. 

  That said, the disciplinary issues cannot continue if they are to make the playoffs. While rust can excuse some of it, the fact of the matter is that they let the Lions back into the contest after what was otherwise a clear-cut victory. With Ben Thomas’ red card on top of that, things could’ve easily slipped away from them. A great recovery, but they can’t afford to be in that position against any of the stronger teams.

  Notable Players: Alex Mann was great on both sides of the ball, putting his name back into the Wales conversation for the Autumn. Jacob Beetham was great off the bench in an unfamiliar position, especially when he was out for so long with injury, so he’s poised to take a lot of pressure off Winnett this season. Javan Sebastian was a notable improvement in the scrum from Kieron Assiratti, and his high-energy loose contributions should keep him in the starting jersey.

  Score: A nice 8/10. Discipline holds them back from a higher spot, but given they were going up against a side that survives off of opposing defensive errors, they held their own very well.

  Team of the Week:

  1. Wyn Jones
  2. Evan Lloyd
  3. Javan Sebastian
  4. Rhys Davies
  5. Shane Lewis-Hughes
  6. Alex Mann
  7. Harri Deaves
  8. Taine Plumtree
  9. Johan Mulder
  10. Callum Sheedy
  11. Keelan Giles
  12. Kieran Williams
  13. Harri Millard
  14. Dan Kasende
  15. Cam Winnett

  2025.09.28