Tag: football

• Wales vs South Africa Review – Autumn Nations 2025

  Wales vs South Africa Review – Autumn Nations 2025

  Wales 0 – 73 South Africa

  So that was something…

  Though not as wide a scoreline as their 96-13 loss against the Springboks in 1998, this is the kind of scoreline that shows the gap between Wales and the top sides. Down some of their Japan-based stars like Cheslin Kolbe and Pieter-Steph du Toit, Rassie’s men showed why this kind of limitation doesn’t matter to them; barring some errors at the start, they were completely merciless towards Wales and had them beat in every category. Any areas which felt underdeveloped at the halfway mark of 0-28 were immediately cleaned up, and their bench meant that forward control remained consistent across 80 minutes.

  With how resilient Wales have been staring down some of the strongest sides in World Rugby this year, they were visibly rattled by the time the visitors scored their sixth try; nothing they did could hold them back as the Springboks’ gameplan was clear; move the ball quickly and carry hard into contact, wearing down Welsh stamina until they can go wide or make a linebreak. For the first half, the visitors held majority possession, and capitalised on that throughout the game as Wales lacked the resources to compete for 80 minutes. A sour note to end what looked like an optimistic campaign.

  On a pettier note; why did we play this again? It’s understandable that this fixture was arranged back in 2017 when Wales were, unbelievable as it is to imagine in today’s climate, better than South Africa, but the WRU can’t genuinely believe that such a fixture will develop players in the long-term when they are this far behind their opposition. This Autumn, Wales have played, by relative power, 3 of the 5 strongest teams in World Rugby, and the obvious impact these losing streaks can have on the players seems to be ignored. There wasn’t much more Tandy or his men could do here, and the only hope going forward is that the team can put this mauling behind them, put in solid shifts for their clubs, and come back stronger for it with a plan for the Six Nations. But from an outside perspective, this felt like a waste.

  Player Ratings:

  1: Gareth Thomas 3

  Not an improvement from last week. The Boks may be intimidating opposition, but his immediate struggles at scrumtime put Wales on the backfoot from where they never really recovered. Was also sloppy at the breakdown and invisible on attack.

  2: Dewi Lake 6

  One messed up lineout hampered what was otherwise a solid evening despite the odds. Lake had a significant impact on both sides of the ball and fought deep into the game, showing the kind of passion expected from the captain.

  3: Keiron Assiratti 5

  A disappointing outing, but fair play given how long he had to stay on field. Never backed down and the scrum stabilised eventually, but this was not his game in the end. Can at least end the autumn with credit in the bank after his last few performances

  4: Ben Carter 6

  One of Wales’ most underrated players, and though he couldn’t impose himself against the larger Springbok pack, he didn’t miss a beat with his tackles. Kept a characteristic level-head and threw out some big hits where needed, though he’s been more dominant in the past.

  5: Rhys Davies 4

  Was hyped up for his strong carrying and abrasive playstyle, but barely got the ball and was generally outshined by everyone else. Not what he needed to prove his value to the squad.

  6: Taine Plumtree 4

  Couldn’t stamp out his discipline issues nor really manage the Springboks’ physical onslaught. His tackle-rip on Kwaga Smith was nice, but looked out of his depth at the breakdown

  7: Alex Mann 6

  Weak first half, but grew into the game and generated some turnovers for Wales. Likely won’t wear this jersey much going forward, but in context, he had a great game given the unwinnable physical battle and his lack of experience.

  8: Aaron Wainwright 7

  Wales’ best player overall; even that nasty eye injury couldn’t hold him back as he injected energy into the forward pack with ball in hand. Would;ve also been higher up the tackle chart if not for his injury, as he made the second-most tackles per minute of anyone involved. Becoming instrumental to the squad if he wasn’t already

  9: Kieran Hardy 4

  Is not Tomos Williams. Which isn’t an issue in and of itself, as Williams is a world-class scrum-half, but the difference in speed of ball was felt and South Africa had no trouble predicting his runs and capitalising on the breakdown. Whenever he slipped up, it was noticed.

  10: Dan Edwards 4

  Couldn’t control the game nearly as well as usual, and utterly botched on restart. Distributed well for the most part, but was targeted on defence and yielded too often.

  11: Rio Dyer 7

  He’s still got it; was consistently involved in Wales’ attack and actually put in a solid defensive shift with 9 tackles. His kick-chase skills kept the pressure on, though Ethan Hooker outplayed him for the former’s try.

  12: Joe Hawkins 4

  Probably wished he was playing for the Scarlets this week; poor defensive work with a 67% tackle rate and got tangled up with Roberts more than you’d expect given their experience together. Kicked well to be fair.

  13: Joe Roberts 5

  Same problems as Hawkins, but brought a little more on attack with his carries. The Springboks just had more than enough class in the midfield to manage anything he could output, however.

  14: Ellis Mee 5

  A mixed performance; on attack, he was energetic and solid under the high-ball, keeping the pressure on otherwise strong performances from Canan Moodie and Damien Willemse. However, he was turned over too frequently and largely outplayed on defence. Good potential, but has room to develop at this level.

  15: Blair Murray 6

  His best outing of the autumn, as he consistently played with energy and beat 4 defenders as South Africa were pressured to check him. Still struggled under the high ball, but if Tandy wants to persist with him at fullback, he seems to be developing the measures to make it work.

  BENCH

  16: Brodie Coghlan N/A

  Made a pretty solid carry and Wales’ final maul looked promising, but not enough to analyse.

  17: Danny Southworth 4

  No match for the gigantic Asenathi Ntlabakanye at the scrum, and while he made a decent carry, didn’t really impact the game much.

  18: Christian Coleman N/A

  Was injured almost immediately after entering the field, forcing Assiratti back on. Will need to wait longer to show his untapped potential

  19: James Ratti N/A

  Not much difference between him and Rhys Davies

  20: Morgan Morse 6

  Chased Canan Moodie well given he’s a forward, and almost caused his try to be voided as a result. Kept up with Wainwright when covering for him, and generally showed why he should be invested in going forward.

  21: Reuben Morgan-Williams 4

  Quicker service rate, but ran into the same problems as Hardy; Wales’ breakdown was completely destroyed by the time he hit the field and he couldn’t get enough work done to fix it.

  22: Callum Sheedy 4

  Brought a bit more in attack than Edwards, but far from error-proof as his awkward wide pass showed. Not much more he could do beyond distribute.

  23: Ben Thomas N/A

  Could’ve been interesting to see his potential at 15 if Wales weren’t so far on the backfoot.

  2025.12.01

• 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

• Wales Autumn Nations Squad: Reaction & Analysis

  Autumn Nations Squad Reaction + Analysis

  Having announced the full squad on Tuesday, Tandy has largely done what I think most people expected him to do; while several key players and starters have been retained, there are several uncapped and returning players that make up a considerably different squad to what I had initially predicted. From the start, Tandy has made it clear that above all else, the Welsh team has needed a new identity and playstyle which it can hone to perfection, and whether or not some of these players are the best in their position ultimately comes second to how well they can fit into the coaches’ idea for this new structure.

  With that said, here is my breakdown of the newly announced Wales squad for the upcoming Autumn International Series.

  Front Row:

  Hooker is a position where Wales have notable depth, but haven’t fully utilised several players at international level. Fittingly, Tandy has selected, alongside the incumbent Dewi Lake, two relatively inexperienced hookers at this level of the game; Liam Belcher and Brodie Coghlan. Belcher I expected in the absence of the injured Elliot Dee, for his defensive skills and solid fundamentals, but Coghlan is more surprising. Though a player I’ve been interested to see on the international stage for his physical carrying, Evan Lloyd appeared to surpass him after the most recent Six Nations. Still, he can be one of the Dragons’ most valuable players at his best, and a larger body will be needed ahead of Argentina and South Africa. Why Lloyd has been excluded is questionable, but Coghlan being his replacement makes sense.

  Tighthead is much less blessed with depth, but it’s at least nice that Tandy has retained Sherratt’s selections. I’m not sure who will start, although Archie Griffin’s work around the field makes him the strongest overall player in my opinion. Similarly to Angus Bell for the Wallabies, however, Tandy might view him as an impact player off the bench, and will favour the more destructive scrummaging of Assiratti and Coleman. Neither have really hit their ceiling, especially with Assiratti’s general inconsistency up front, but this makes two squads where the promoted Hair Bears have favoured selecting them over more consistent starters. Duncan Jones, after all, was the prop who really refined Tomas Francis’ scrummaging work, and if both him and Adam see something in Coleman, it might be worth believing them.

  Loosehead is the real story though, because while Smith and Thomas were expected, there’s a much larger, 131 kg elephant in the room. Rhys Carré has been one of the strongest carrying looseheads in the Gallagher Prem in recent years, but being captured by the 25-cap rule has largely eroded hopes in his return to the international fold. However, for largely unclarified reasons (but seemingly the same clause that applied to Jarrod Evans), he’s back, and with how much size this Wales team has missed, his gameplay will be incredibly helpful. I wou;dnt start him over Smith, given that he;s the weaker scrummager, but I think he can really make the 17 jersey his own. Southworth, meanwhile, has also come from left-field, though he’s helped pick up where Carré left off at Cardiff with his carrying game. At the very least, being based in Wales should retain a similar bench quality for the South Africa game, and he’s scrummaged pretty well for Cardiff so far.

  Second-Row:

  For the most part, I called this right in my blog; but here’s what it means. Dafydd Jenkins, with his physicality and defensive skill, makes for an excellent enforcer who can simultaneously get Wales’ pack moving and take down attackers. Adam Beard, meanwhile, is a brilliant lineout operator, both at taking and stealing, which is especially valuable with the strength of Wales’ driving maul, while his maul defence can help against the Southern Hemisphere’s world-class hookers. These two will likely start as many games as possible; they’re the incumbents for a reason.

  Ben Carter’s defensive skill, experience, and versatility make him the likely bench pick, though Rhys Davies’ breakdown work might give him an edge instead. Davies and Fender cover Jenkins and Beard’s skillset respectively, helping for the South Africa test, and having played together frequently, will know what the other is capable of. Our locks, overall, aren’t particularly flashy attackers, but fulfill the core fundamentals of their respective roles well, which can set up the stronger offensive power of other attackers. These skills are needed for any team to succeed, and if Wales’ pack are going to be competitive, these players are our best chance to control the setpiece.

  Back Row:

  Not having Ross Moriarty or Tommy Reffell is a surprise, but I don’t think it’ll change the general strategy too much. Luckily for Wales, they have plenty of quality options in the back row to cover any strategy a coach may want to employ. Interestingly, there has been a large focus on breakdown threats and jackalers; with the appointment of Dan Lydiate as a defence coach who specialises in chop-tackling, this should be well-leveraged in defensive tactics.

  I’m including Freddie Thomas as a blindside because that’s where I expect him to play; I think the larger size and better quality of other locks will keep him out of the second row, but he will be an invaluable player on blindside with his… well, size and physicality. He’s a great carrier and athletic runner who will be invaluable against Argentina’s double-blindsides and will push Plumtree and Mann for that starting 6 jersey. The other two are no joke, however; they’ve proven how high their ceilings can reach after last season, though I think Mann might be stuck with playing against Japan; his defence and lineout work is exceptional, but with our options at 7 being similarly capable, a bigger body might be needed here.

  Opernside I’ll keep short; Jac starts. Hopefully, though, there will be much less pressure on him than there was during the Gatland era, where he more or less had to do everything he was physically capable of. During the Lions Tour, we saw his potential with a stronger pack around him, and he was able to simply focus on dominating the breakdown and generating turnovers, and he was excellent. He’s also the captain now, so combine those together and I’m sure his quality will shine through. Morgan Morse, meanwhile, might play here if Jac moves to 6, as his stronger carrying game gives him great bench impact, though he isn’t as much of a lineout jumper as Alex Mann.

  At 8, Taulupe Faletau’s untimely injury has caused a bit of a reshuffle; though given he was out for most of 2024, Aaron Wainwright won’t be uncomfortable leading at 8. What is interesting is the call up of Olly Cracknell as his replacement. To me, this suggests that Tandy’s primary wish from this position is significant post-contact meters and defenders beaten. Wainwright leads in both categories usually, so he’ll likely be the starter, while Cracknell’s larger size will be used to batter down tired defenders in search of the try line. Cracknell being based in Leicester, though, means he’ll probably be sidelined in favour of bringing Morgan Morse into his preferred position for the South Africa game.

  A wide range of skills across all three positions, but a relative consistency in each implies Tandy wants specific things from each jersey. Should his tactics work, this could be how Wales build their deep backrow for future campaigns. 

  Scrum Half:

  Of course, all that breakdown work and power won’t mean much if the ball isn’t moving fast enough to capitalise on it. Tomos Williams was always going to be here, though he hasn’t gotten off to the best of starts at Gloucester yet. Still, Tandy has selected a very powerful pack capable of generating significant post-contact meters, so the scrum half position will be incredibly valuable for moving the ball outside. The Lion is a great triple-threat; his kicking has developed greatly throughout the Gatland era, and his distribution skills aren’t matched by anyone in Wales. He might not steal the show as much as last season, but he’s still a huge asset.

  Pairing with him off the bench are both Ospreys starters, Hardy and Morgan-Williams. Hardy had a polarising Japan tour, but he still showed his quality at test level with good supporting lines and a healthy collection of assists and tries. Still, his Ospreys partner Morgan-Williams might be preferred as a long-term successor to Williams. RMW kicks a bit more frequently, and has played more games recently given Hardy’s injuries, so it’s more of a 50/50. When both are fit, Hardy tends to start more frequently for the Ospreys, so when Tomos is absent against South Africa, he might take the lead.

  Fly Half:

  Three names is an interesting call; it seems to me that Tandy is keeping his options open for 5-3 splits, but there is a clear pattern here of fast-moving playmakers who like to play very open games. Dan Edwards is my predicted starter; though maybe not the in-form 10, Wales’ win over Japan in the summer was largely thanks to his game-management and ability to apply consistent offensive pressure. He also has about 8-9 years on the other two, so being the long-term player gives him a solid edge, and his lack of experience hasn’t held him back much so far.

  The other two are more experienced, and act as good backups thanks to their similar playstyles, but both do have their weaknesses. Evans is a great playmaker who can comfortably exploit a tired defence off the bench, but I don’t think he’s a starting 10; his game management and defensive work tends to let him down in games where his pack lose control. Callum Sheedy is a bit stronger, and has had a great run of form for Cardiff lately with his great assist skills, but his tee-kicking has been inconsistent for the past two season Similarly, I wouldn’t start him at 10, but both could provide valuable impact off the bench. It’s important to build the team around what players can do rather than focus on what they can’t; both players’ skills are well-suited to the kind of offence their former head-coaches might employ.

  Centres:

  In a position which has perhaps been most indicative of Wales’ struggles to determine their playstyle, Tandy has once again formed a very clear pattern; two ball-playing 12s, two big carrying 13s, and Nick Tompkins to add defensive security to both. Ben Thomas and Max Llewellyn is a well-utilised combination, and one Sherratt will be familiar with, and adding Joe Hawkins and Louis Hennessey as a younger version of said pairing gives Tandy options, both starting or on the bench. Hawkins and Thomas can cover 10, Llewellyn and Hennessey can cover the wings, and Llewellyn can also move to 12 if need be.

  Who starts the tests will be an interesting call. Thomas and Llewellyn as the incumbent combination is certainly the most likely option, while Tompkins could come off the bench in certain matchups to provide solid coverage in the event of injuries. Then again, Hawkins is a larger man than Thomas, who’s come under fire for having the physicality more in line with a fly-half. Hennessey has a much tougher time displacing Llewellyn, who has an extra 6 years of experience and starts far more frequently at club level, international experience aside. Tompkins is arguably in the best form of them all, as he’s been a consistent contributor to the Saracens’ excellent start to the 2025 season.

  Also, with Tompkins, Llewellyn, and Hennessey all being based in England, none will be available to cover the 13 position. This could mean that Jacob Beetham, who I’ll cover shortly, could move into this spot, or Tandy will call in additional reinforcements like Joe Roberts or Harri Millard instead.

  Outside Backs:

  The main question here is Louis Rees-Zammit’s fitness. He seems to be doing well, but having not played since week 2 of the PREM, Tandy might opt to rest him against the consistent aerial pressure of Argentina, especially when there are sufficient options to match the visitors in this area. Josh Adams had a great game against Edinburgh, and his defensive skills and experience will be valuable on whichever wing he’s deployed. To. Rogers might get less gametime if Rees-Zammit is able to play most of the tests (which, if he’s fit to do so, he really should), but his better aerial skill might earn him a spot against Argentina and New Zealand regardless, as Rodrigo Isgro and Will Jordan will likely be included to challenge Wales here.

  Rio Dyer’s inclusion makes a lot of sense, as with LRZ’s injury his speed could compensate in games where pace is more valuable than technical skills. Not that Dyer doesn’t have those, but being reintroduced to the Wales fold after he was functionally discarded around this time last year makes one curious to see how he has developed since then, given the Dragons haven’t given him much platform to show this. Still, Keelan Giles’ injury and Tom Bowen’s youth makes him a reasonable shout, and with how dangerous he’s been against elite teams before, there’s no reason he couldn’t do so again.

  At fullback, Blair Murray will aim to try and maintain his counterattack pressure and ability to create breaks and scores from very little. Given how much Argentina and New Zealand (as possibly South Africa depending on who is at 12) like to kick the ball, Murray’s presence makes large areas of Wales’ backfield dangerous to kick towards. While not the tallest, he’s no less effective in the air, so it’ll be hard for Jacob Beetham to take that spot. Beatham, however, is a very versatile back who can cover both wings and both centres in addition to fullback. He’s had a solid start to the season, and his skills on defence and in the air should earn him some gametime off the bench.

  2025.10.29