Tag: sports

• Wales vs Argentina Review – Nations Championship 2026

  Wales vs Argentina Review – Nations Championship 2026

  Argentina 35 – 21 Wales

  The win streak is over. While Wales were valiant in their performance and made the Pumas work for it (at least, for most of the contest), Argentina were simply too strong; too coordinated, too physical, and too confident in their gameplan. They gained control over the matchup in the first half, and outside of some key moments, didn’t really let go of it. Wales needed to be conservative and restrain the Argentinian machine; instead they fed right into it, most of their risk-takes backfiring directly into their opponents’ hands.

  If anything really undid Wales, it was their general structure. Or rather, the overall lack of it; Sherratt and Murchie’s plans to undo the Argentinian gameplan weren’t clear at any point in the match, beyond the general strengths the Wales team have shown this year that we already knew about (close-range carrying tries & defensive workrate). This made them largely predictable against a world-class Argentinian defence fronted by Marcos Kremer, and they simply had no answer to a best-ever showing by Joaquin Oviedo, who barrelled clean through 6 defenders and made 98 meters all on his own. There aren’t new threats at this level, but Wales simply didn’t know how to deal with them.

  But if anything is a testament to how far Wales have come, it’s their sheer resilience under that level of pressure. After Ben Warren powered through a gap for his first international try, the team still looked fired up for a comeback that would’ve been hard for most teams to believe in. When Wales had possession, they looked genuinely threatening, and seemed to find their feet in gaining ground and slowly wearing down their opponents. But by that point, it wasn’t enough.

  Overall, this felt like a step back in overall performance, though Wales can take confidence in how far they’ve come; they’ve closed the margin of defeat from 24 to 14 points, almost half, and have shown over the past few weeks that they can genuinely compete at this level. Argentina are simply much further along that journey.

  Player Ratings:

  1: Rhys Carré 6

  Defensively was 50/50, missing a good number of tackles. Then again, the scrum was solid against a very big Argentinian pack, and claimed one of his typical close-range tries. Always a threat with ball in hand.

  2: Dewi Lake 8

  Wales’ best player. Wales’ lineout and maul were their biggest strengths going in, and Lake hit his darts and put in a great effort on both sides of the ball. That injury was very unfortunately timed, but hopefully he’ll be available for South Africa, as he’ll be needed.

  3: Dillon Lewis 7

  His best performance so far. Lewis showed his point of difference over the other tightheads with his work around the field, making 10 tackles but only 1 carry. Still, the scrum was largely solid, so he appears to have tightened that area of his game, and should enjoy more appearances at this level.

  4: Ben Carter 5

  One of his weaker performances, though he still managed the lineout well. Carter always puts in a big shift, but missed a couple tackles and didn’t really organise Wales’ defence up front, as Oviedo and Wenger got mileage out all their carries. Got taken off when Argentina had full control.

  5: Adam Beard 5

  Generally looked cleaner than last week, but Beard is still prone to some strange errors, one time handing the ball back to Argentina right after winning a turnover. He’s at least improved over past performances, making more carries and tackles, and has contributed to a powerful maul and setpiece.

  6: James Botham 7

  Wales’ hardest worker over 80 minutes, and looked completely shattered by the end of the game as a result. 15 tackles and 17 carries, constantly annoying Argentinians with his efforts. If he builds on that next week, he could be a real frustration to Rassie Erasmus.

  7: Jac Morgan 7

  Unsurprisingly. Jac was one of Wales’ best as he made more tackles than anyone else on the pitch, and his leadership helped rally the side later on into the game. The backrow put in a strong shift overall, they just weren’t matching the physicality of Kremer and Oviedo, but Jac epitomised Wales’ valiant efforts on defence.

  8: Aaron Wainwright 5

  Not a bad game, but this wasn’t really a match for Wainwright to shine. Argentina firmly won the physical battle, and with them having the majority possession, Oviedo was the one making the powerful carries. On defence, Waino struggled a lot to contain them, missing 3 tackles, and got replaced near the 60 minute mark.

  9: Tomos Williams 4

  This was a bad game for Wales’ midfield, as the team completely lacked creativity or a clear path forward beyond Argentina’s attack. Of the bunch, Tomos has the weakest excuse, as he captains an exciting attacking side every week, but he was clearly struggling against the relentless onslaught and was forced onto defence a lot.

  10: Sam Costelow 4

  Also not great. Albornoz is several steps ahead of Costelow as a player, although Edwards likely wouldn’t have fared much better. His ability to spot opportunities was clear, but his execution fell short of the mark at times. On defence, he actually managed quite well, though he missed 3 tackles and couldn’t handle Justo Piccaro much at all.

  11: Josh Adams 5

  Mostly invisible, though he got a lot more work done in the second half. Probably should’ve been replaced over Ellis Mee, as he didn’t influence much on attack despite making 8 carries.

  12: Joe Hawkins 4

  Hawkins has had a good run in the 12 jersey so far, but the benefit of having a playmaking 12 is to bolster the creativity in attack. Hawkins got some nice change out of his 12 successful carries, but otherwise there wasn’t much else he could do, and he was completely overpowered on defence.

  13: Eddie James 5

  The pick of the midfielders, if only because he was underutilised rather than poor. Only managed 4 tackles and 5 carries; stopped a try with one tackle, then was defeated out wide for the first try.

  14: Ellis Mee 6

  Stepped up under the high ball, and did well on defence to contain Mateo Carreras. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to bring much else before being replaced by Rees-Zammit. Still, his point of difference at this level is clear.

  15: Blair Murray 5

  Actually managed the high ball okay, though on defence he fell off a lot of tackles. Brought his usual energy on attack, but Argentina’s defence was well-equipped to handle him. 

  BENCH

  16: Ryan Elias 7

  With how good Lake was, Elias made for a great replacement. Strong on defence, ripping a ball from a carrier close to Wales’ line, he proved why he’s earned 50 caps for his country. If Lake is injured next week, expect him to start, and likely go deep into the game.

  17: Nicky Smith 6

  The scrum was generally less stable after the larger starting props left, though Smith did well to contain attackers around the park and keep the setpiece working.

  18: Ben Warren 7

  A great try for only his second cap; his carrying game looks solid at this level, similarly to Assiratti. Also held his own at scrum time, and has proven to Tandy he can cut it at this level.

  19: Teddy Williams 6

  Showed his test credentials by bringing real energy from the bench. Solid on both sides of the ball, though nothing outstanding

  20: Kane James 5

  Big energy on his debut, but it didn’t really get him anywhere against the much larger Kremer.

  21: Kieran Hardy N/A

  Ruck speed was quicker than Tomos’, but that wasn’t saying much, given 20% of Wales’ rucks took over 6 seconds.

  22: Max Llewellyn 5

  Not much he could do by the time he was brought on. Held up some carriers well and threw himself around physically.

  23: Louis Rees-Zammit 6

  Stepped up after a weak showing last week, making some good line breaks and chased the high balls well. Looked like a better fit for the gameplan.

  My Team for South Africa:

  1. Rhys Carré
  2. Dewi Lake
  3. Dillon Lewis
  4. Ben Carter
  5. Adam Beard
  6. Jac Morgan
  7. Tommy Reffell
  8. Aaron Wainwright
  9. Tomos Williams
  10. Dan Edwards
  11. Josh Adams
  12. Eddie James
  13. Max Llewellyn
  14. Louis Rees-Zammit
  15. Ellis Mee

  BENCH

  16. Ryan Elias
  17. Nicky Smith
  18. Ben Warren
  19. Teddy Williams
  20. Taine Plumtree
  21. James Botham
  22. Reuben Morgan-Williams
  23. Mason Grady

  If Argentina have the physical power to overwhelm Wales, South Africa will feel like an insurmountable obstacle. Issues like Wales’ awkward defence and attacking consistency aren’t really going to close the gap here; the reality is that no team knows how to beat this current Springboks structure, and Wales are the least experienced, coordinated, and successful team they’ll be facing. The good news is that since Rassie likes to announce his team early, Tandy will know roughly what he’ll be facing from minute 1, though any measure of “handling” South Africa will be a considerable achievement for Wales.

  Up front, there isn’t any clear avenue for change, as these are the combinations Tandy has stuck with for most of the campaign, and they’ve largely worked well. Maintaining setpiece discipline will be critical, and the lineout looks a far more winnable battle than the scrum, so Lake (or Elias if he’s still injured) and his pack will have to be at their best. There is a switch in the backrow, however, as a 6-2 split will work well to handle the physical challenge the Springboks will bring. If Tandy’s men are to hit the Springboks, they’ll need majority possession, so the dual-jackal threat of Morgan and Reffell will do well to earn back the ball on defence. Botham and Plumtree can then bring their greater dynamism off the bench, carrying hard into tired defenders and keeping the pace high.

  There’s a more considerable change in the midfield. Joe Hawkins is a great 12 and an international player, but it’s clear Wales have had issues using Eddie James to his full potential at 13. With a pack as physical as South Africa, size will matter, and while Hawkins isn’t small, this is a midfield combo based on size and strength. Llewellyn acts as a more agile foil, who can barge down walls or skip tackles, closer to James’ usual partners at the Scarlets. Also, Edwards has been selected over Costelow, although either makes a good case to start. Both have had fairly weak games, but Edwards is the less predictable player who’s more likely to catch the Boks offguard, which could create crucial counter-attacking opportunities.

  Out back, Blair Murray may be a solid fullback, but with Kurt-Lee Arendse, it’s unlikely he’ll see any mercy under the high ball. How well Vusi Moyo and Jaco Williams acclimate to international rugby is yet to be seen, but he’d already have enough on his plate. Ellis Mee has been moved there to better utilise his aerial skills, while Adams’ defence and Rees-Zammit’s pace can frustrate their opponents. As for the last bench spot, Hawkins is a consideration for his versatility, but to better use the resources around camp, this could be a solid test for Mason Grady’s power game, as he’s a fair bit bigger than the Boks’ wingers and should help gain crucial ground.

  To be realistic, there isn’t a clear path for Wales here; not that most teams typically fare much better. Scotland came close, but if they aren’t clinical enough to finish the job against the Boks, Wales will be fortunate to get close. The above gameplan is designed for chaos and physicality, trying to maintain control over the ball and hit the Springboks as hard as possible from all angles. Anything beyond the 0-73 destruction from last time is a plus, though a 30-point margin is more expected. This is a real test for what the team can do against the very best, and they should relish every moment.

  2026.07.13

• Wales vs Fiji Review – Nations Championship 2026

  Wales vs Fiji Review – Nations Championship 2026

  Fiji 24 – Wales 39

  Cardiff City Stadium was transformed for the opening game of the Nations Championship, helping to compensate for the lack of a true Fijian home stadium with a brilliant showing of Fijian culture, helping to hype up the opposing players into a match many expected them to win regardless of venue. But Wales’ response was emphatic; leading for most of the game and answering one of the strongest attacks in World Rugby with grit, ferocity and clinical offence to secure back-to-back test victories for the first time under Tandy’s leadership.

  It can;t be stressed how important this win was for Welsh rugby; not only did this prove the Italian victory wasn’t a one-off, Wales were arguably even better as they restrained all of their opponents’ best attackers before responding with real weapons of their own. With a weak overall possession, Wales would’ve been forgiven for retreating into a shell of secure, practical rugby. Instead, they played with genuine confidence in their gameplan, perfectly tailored to exploit Fiji’s big weakness; consistent, sustained pressure over 80 minutes. With their opponents tired and low on ideas, it was only a matter of time before the half-time gap widened in Wales’ favour.

  That said, Wales do have some work-ons if they are to challenge Argentina and South Africa. While their defence was strong overall, conceding only three tries despite having 10% less possession, there were several moments where Wales lacked the control and foresight they will need to handle stronger opponents; though successful, Wales’ defensive efforts were based on determination and raw endurance rather than accuracy. 

  Overall, however, this is nothing less than a brilliant achievement for the team, progressively increasing the scale of opponents they can win against and improving upon their structure with every game. Strong (or at least, improved) showings against Argentina and South Africa will make for an excellent start to their first Nations Championship campaign.

  Player Ratings:

  1: Rhys Carré 8

  One of Wales’ best Six Nations players, and was just as strong here. The scrum was a much improved effort overall, and Carré can certainly claim accolades for his contributions on that front. His trademark try-scoring ability lead to a vital score after the break, too.

  2: Dewi Lake 8

  The lineout was less consistent, though that wasn’t really Lake’s fault, who made up for his efforts by bringing back the same rolling maul that brought him to worldwide recognition in 2024. Ran into some handling issues, but so did everyone, so his efforts up front take priority.

  3: Dillon Lewis 7

  Also gets points for the scrum, and helped add to that with a nice haul of 8 tackles, only missing one. Less impactful than Carré, but handled the massive Ernoi Mawi well. Should keep this jersey going forward.

  4: Ben Carter 8

  14 tackles, none missed. That speaks volumes alone to Carter’s defensive efforts, as Fiji couldn’t get past him no matter what they tried. Did well to control the lineout too, which was one of Wales’ strong points.

  5: Adam Beard 5

  Beard had a polarising game, overall. One the one hand, 13 tackles, multiple turnovers, and a strong setpiece speak volumes to how he physically bolstered Wales efforts, and those impacts were ultimately the reason Wales won. Then again, he also conceded more penalties than anyone, many of which were needless offside or foul play penalties he gained nothing from. Needs to tidy up his game.

  6: Alex Mann 6

  Probably his weakest performance so far, not that you can hold it against him with his consistency up until now. Mann had difficulty managing the Fijians’ physicality, as he got turned over on all three of his carries after going off early with a HIA. Could do with a break after that performance. 

  7: Jac Morgan 9

  Back to his best. Two tries, top of the tackle charts, consistently strong at the breakdown and one of the better carriers. Jac epitomised everything Wales did well, with few errors, though it took him a while to get into it. Once he found his feet, Fiji had a tough time dealing with him, and his workrate deservedly one him Man of the Match

  8: Aaron Wainwright 7

  Less dominant than he has been in recent performances. A strong carrying threat, but that wasn’t the best approach against a big Fijian side who quickly turned him over. Was clearly targeted and viewed as the prime threat, but he hung in there well.

  9: Tomos Williams 8

  The primary playmaker in this match, Tomos’ pass selection and kicking game got Wales out of trouble and into an attacking position. Very much an all-court game, though he obviously wasn’t going to stand up to the strongest of the opposition’s carriers.

  10: Dan Edwards 5

  Edwards did well around the park, throwing himself into defence bravely but largely in vain; slowing down Fiji’s gameplay as much as possible is always the goal, to be fair. From the tee, though, his faults were a lot less forgivable, as he missed most of his kicks and kept Wales under pressure when they really couldn’t afford to be.

  11: Josh Adams 9

  The wingers didn’t get to shine much, but Adams’ best selling point is his defence, which he showed by claiming a very helpful turnover near the 50 meter line. But the real highlight was his try, with his vision and determination letting him surprise Ravutaumada. A player of his experience and quality will be valuable in this tournament.

  12: Joe Hawkins 6

  Hawkins drew the short straw in being the first line of defence against the untackleable Josua Tuisova, but he kept his channel largely under control. Worked well to cover Edwards on defence, but couldn’t bring much influence on attack, and Rayesi’s footwork was too much for him on a few occasions.

  13: Eddie James 6

  Also made some big interventions on defence despite the quality of Fiji’s carriers, but also made some big errors. Generally, Eddie’s job was to organise the defence of the backline, and it stood strong for most of the game, but his own contributions fell short next to some of his teammates.

  14: Louis Rees-Zammit 3

  Not good. Mostly silent on attack and was stuck with the unenviable task of containing Wainiqolo on defence, which he didn’t. Struggled under the high ball, and generally went anonymous when Wales needed go-forward. From a player of his quality, you’d expect a lot more.

  15: Blair Murray 7

  Still struggled under the high ball, but made up for it on defence and with the ball in hand. Murray was elusive as ever, making very impactful carries and kicking well to gain space. Has done himself a lot of favours showing that he’s a Test-quality fullback where Wales need to develop options.

  BENCH

  16: Ryan Elias 8

  Kept the scrum and maul working well, picking up where Lake left off and scoring a try for his efforts. Brought his workrate to the Fijian pack well.

  17: Nicky Smith 8

  Weirdly, less impactful scrummaging than Carré, but was still strong. Much better around the field, being a constant breakdown annoyance.

  18: Ben Warren 6

  Not much to write about, but also held on well with the scrum, which is definitely an achievement for a Welsh tighthead, especially on his first cap.

  19: Taine Plumtree N/A

  Not a lot of gametime at 8 to make an impact, but looked up for some big carries. Will probably get more opportunities later on.

  20: James Botham 8

  Big work at the breakdown, could’ve easily started with how well he threw himself at the rucks. A nice turnover helped wrap up the game for Wales.

  21: Kieran Hardy N/A

  Here we go again…

  22: Sam Costelow 7

  Wales needed direction and control in the late game, and Costelow brought a lot more of it than Edwards. Only one kick, but was solid at the tee and helped close out the game.

  23: Ellis Mee 6

  Better defensive work, though less strong under the high ball and quiet on attack. Looked hungry to get some work done, and he may be one to watch as the tournament goes on.

  My Team for Argentina:

  1. Rhys Carré
  2. Dewi Lake
  3. Dillon Lewis
  4. Ben Carter
  5. Adam Beard
  6. Jac Morgan
  7. Tommy Reffell
  8. Aaron Wainwright
  9. Tomos Williams
  10. Sam Costelow
  11. Josh Adams
  12. Eddie James
  13. Max Llewellyn
  14. Louis Rees-Zammit
  15. Ellis Mee

  BENCH

  16. Ryan Elias
  17. Nicky Smith
  18. Sam Wainwright
  19. Teddy Williams
  20. James Botham
  21. Reuben Morgan-Williams
  22. Dan Edwards
  23. Mason Grady

  Following Scotland’s win over Argentina, Wales’ next opponents will be desperate to right wrongs before facing a more intimidating England side. Luckily, the match provided a helpful blueprint; Scotland were dominant in collisions and at the breakdown, retaining possession and carrying with intent to wear down the opposition. Tandy has already stated his intention to alter the team to cope with the travelling, so some players have been replaced to give them a rest following the gruelling physicality of the Fiji test.

  Up front, the pack is largely the same; with only three locks, there isn’t much more to be done to stabilise the setpiece. Sam Wainwright should at least get an opportunity to show his scrummaging credentials, to best assess Wales’ options ahead of the Springboks test. The backrow has also been reshuffled, as Tommy Reffell’s jackaling skills will be helpful in slowing down Argentina’s ball and regaining possession. Tandy usually prefers a lineout-taking 6, so Mann or Plumtree are viable options, but Reffell has been a solid lineout taker for Leicester in the past.

  The backline has seen a more significant shift; Costelow brings stronger game management than Edwards, as Wales will need to be more controlled than they were against Fiji. His centre combination has also shifted to give him more familiar options outside him; Eddie James can bring a similar carrying threat to Sione Tuipulotu, while Max Llewellyn can make consistent linebreaks when the Argentinian defence opens up, and both are physical enough to put pressure on Tomas Albornoz.

  Both wingers are retained, as they have proven test credentials and are solid under the high ball, though Louis Rees-Zammit will need a stronger performance on both sides of the ball. Ellis Mee replaces Blair Murray at fullback, as while the latter performed well against Fiji, Argentina are far more reliant on their aerial game through Rodrigo Isgro and Lucio Cinti, who got away with putting pressure on Murray’s weaker high ball skills last time. Mason Grady should also bring some energy and power in the lategame, as his size can dominate collisions against Argentina’s smaller backs.

  Wales will need to be a lot more structured and clinical against Argentina, as they are in turn a lot more structured and clinical than Fiji, and have a wider spread of experienced and world-class players. Argentina will want to open the game up with tactical kicking, but if Wales are competitive at the setpiece, they have the carrying threats to gain territory. Who concedes more penalties will likely be the deciding factor, as both teams tend to struggle with discipline. Wales’ improvements in this area against Fiji are promising, but they’ll be under a lot more pressure next week.

  2026.07.05

• Wales vs Barbarians Review – Nations Championship 2026

  Wales vs Barbarians Review – Nations Championship 2026

  Barbarians 31 – 33 Wales

  The first back-to-back Wales victories since the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Which isn’t the most flattering benchmark, but it’s been a long time coming in preparation for the Nations Championship. Prior to this match, the Barbarians lost to the Springboks 80-31, so if the takeaway from this game is that the Springboks, the world Number 1s, are 47 points better than an away-player-less Wales, it’s a fair cop.

  Generally, this was a step down from Wales’ performance against Italy, notably in the first half where the score ended 5-14. Wales’ defence held firm against a constant stream of powerful carries from the likes of Nathan Hughes and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, who channelled frustration at missing out on international honours, but Wales found plenty of answers to the challengers’ questions. Wales were the more controlled and measured side, making linebreaks when given the opportunity, though not always being clinical enough to finish them.

  Only when George North entered the field, did things start to heat up. Wales’ attack elevated when their own replacements came on, but North’s carrying presented a formidable challenge as he claimed two scores to keep the gap close for the rest of the game. With Harry Plummer’s two missed conversions and Dan Edwards’ one, this would’ve been a dead even game – a fitting warm-up for the upcoming tour.

  Overall, Wales will take the win, though question marks may remain over areas such as the scrum and defence where they had more difficulty. The more structured national sides they will be facing over the next three weeks will pose a lot more competition to Wales in these areas, so Tandy has a lot to consider in preparation for those games.

  Player Ratings:

  1: Gareth Thomas 4

  Wales’ scrum had a very poor start, and Thomas was the prop most frequently penalised. At the same time, his around the field contributions were notable, making 9 tackles and 2 turnovers, but his faults were more costly. This kind of performance is becoming a concerning theme, but his discipline has improved from last time. 

  2: Dewi Lake 7

  His low pass to Wainwright was a black mark, and he has to be marked down for the weak early scrum, but otherwise Lake was solid here. Influential on both sides of the ball, he closed the gap on the Baabaas physicality, and looked a fair bit faster than usual in the carry.

  3: Dillon Lewis 4

  Not the return to the Wales jersey he’d have wanted, though he was the stronger of the starting two props in the scrum, and helped win a penalty towards the end of the second half. Lewis is more renowned for his work around the field than in the scrum, but it was more of the opposite here.

  4: Ben Carter 7

  Strong defensive performance as always, tying with Jac for most tackles completed. Missed a couple, but he’s been the model of consistency since the Six Nations, so expect him to start against Fiji

  5: Teddy Williams 6

  Didn’t look like someone who hasn’t played since October. Teddy’s workrate was just as high as Ben’s, though he obviously played fewer minutes. Will bring more impactful efforts in attack when he’s fully recovered.

  6: Taine Plumtree 6

  This looked a lot closer to Plumtree’s Scarlets efforts than his usual Wales ones. For one, he didn’t get carded. But generally, he was a constant thorn in the Baabaas defence in the first half, with multiple effective carries and handled the brunt of Wales’ strong lineouts. Still, one feels he has some work to do before he’s pushing Mann or Botham out of the 6 jersey.

  7: Jac Morgan 7

  Jac tied with Ben Carter for most tackles made, but this felt like a step back from his typically influential performances. Optimistically, this may be a sign that the team isn’t as reliant on him to carry them anymore, though his defensive workrate remains at its usual standard.

  8: Aaron Wainwright 8

  Another game, another performance where Waino is one of the best players on the pitch. Made the bulk of Wales’ carries, throwing himself into larger players and coming out on top, and being generally unlucky not to score a try. Just as strong in defence too, making 13 and missing none. Hopefully, he’ll be raring to take on Fiji with the same energy.

  9: Kieran Hardy 7

  His best performance for Wales in a while, as he worked well with Dan Edwards to pull the strings of Wales’ attack. His efforts didn’t all field results, but he was involved with all 3 of Wales first tries before leaving. Given Tandy’s tendency to leave him benched until the end of a game, this was a statement of intent that he can more than hold his own at this level.

  10: Dan Edwards 8

  Another of Wales’ best. Two tries, a solid series of kicks whether at the tee or across the field, and read the opposition very well. Edwards played with complete confidence whenever he got his hands on the ball, though it was a tougher showing for him on defence. Wales had a few issues in general under the high ball, but when Edwards clicked, he was excellent.

  11: Ellis Mee 5

  A tough one to rank; in another timeline, he would’ve scored a hattrick, and he beat more defenders than anyone else. However, under the high ball, he struggled to make an impact, and couldn’t help out much on defence either. 

  12: Joe Hawkins 7

  Good with ball in hand, struggled without; this will be a common theme among the backs. Hawkins missed 6 tackles, which sounds poor, though he did well to shepherd attackers into difficult spots. His carrying and passing efforts were effective, though, so Tandy will probably stick with him at 12.

  13: Eddie James 6

  Not really an improvement on his Six Nations’ outing. James made some good carries, but got outplayed by Nankivell and Ward, who targeted his channel a lot. His handling will need to improve if he’s to stay ahead of Max Llewlleyn in the pecking order.

  14: Tom Rogers 4

  Not great; outside of the typical defensive issues the backline suffered with, Rogers also couldn’t handle his opposing numbers in the air, even though it’s usually one of his stronger areas. May be rested going forward if he wants to play fullback for Ospreys, as he will need time to find his best position.

  15: Blair Murray 7

  One of the scarier calls going into the game, Murray wasn’t challenged much in the air, allowing him to show the rest of his abilities to the fullest. Showed his impressive strength in stopping a try from a close-range restart, and constantly dazzled defenders with his footwork and kicking. May have earned his starting spot, though the airgame will be a concern against more organised teams.

  BENCH

  16: Ryan Elias 7

  Bolstered the scrum, and generally picked up where Lake left off, though he was less noteworthy around the park. The clear choice for the 16 jersey against Fiji

  17: Rhys Barratt 7

  Easily the best of the debutants. His scrummaging wasn’t perfect, but he held on well overall, which will stand him in good stead given his very impressive carry. Barratt’s workrate is a real selling point among the selected front rowers, and he may have done enough work to avoid being dropped.

  18: Ben Warren 6

  Didn’t collapse a scrum, so he gets a point for that. Otherwise was fairly quiet.

  19: Ryan Woodman 5

  Also pretty quiet, though matching his fellow locks’ workrate was never going to be easy. 

  20: Harrison Keddie 5

  Looked strong, but faded away pretty quickly. Lacks the sheer dynamism of other backrowers, and tried to compensate with physicality against a side that relishes contests of brute force; not the easiest gamble.

  21: Reuben Morgan-Williams 7

  One of the most underrated players in the squad, and showed why as he arguably outplayed Hardy. He sped up the ruck service considerably, and brought his own threat with ball-in-hand with a brilliant dummy pass to set up his own try. Even after both scrum halves put in such great performances, RMW has made a particularly strong case to be drafted into to the 23 against Fiji.

  22: Sam Costelow 6

  Costelow was fine, which was all he really needed to be after Edwards did so much work. He made his conversions and led the attack well, though he got overshadowed by those around him

  23: Mason Grady 5

  Not particularly impactful, and made some weird defensive errors. Also didn’t really get to touch the ball, limiting his main strength. If he’d started, he’d likely have a similar impact to Mee or Rogers.

  My Team to face Fiji:

  1. Rhys Carré
  2. Dewi Lake
  3. Dillon Lewis
  4. Ben Carter
  5. Teddy Williams
  6. Alex Mann
  7. Jac Morgan
  8. Aaron Wainwright
  9. Tomos Williams
  10. Dan Edwards
  11. Josh Adams
  12. Joe Hawkins
  13. Eddie James
  14. Louis Rees-Zammit
  15. Blair Murray

  BENCH

  16. Evan Lloyd
  17. Nicky Smith
  18. Ben Warren
  19. Adam Beard
  20. James Botham
  21. Reuben Morgan-Williams
  22. Sam Costelow
  23. Max Llewellyn

  I wanted to wait until Tandy trimmed down the squad for the rest of the campaign before trying to work out what approach might be taken against Fiji. While Dafydd Jenkins’ injury is an unwelcome surprise, the following team looks well-equipped to handle the Flying Fijians’ typical gameplan. Like the Barbarians’, Fiji appreciate an open, chaotic style of gameplay, so physicality and a focused defence will be needed to restrain their biggest threats.

  The return of English-based players helps with this a lot; in addition to their experience, it helps deepen the squad as Tandy has stated he wants to rotate players throughout the campaign to help ease the physical pressure of travelling. This first fixture will still be in Cardiff, but it’s something to keep in mind when building future teams. 

  Fiji’s weakness is usually their discipline and struggles asserting control over a match, but Wainiqolo and Ravouvou can score from anywhere, so Hawkins and James will need to improve considerably from their defensive efforts last weekend. Murray at fullback is a risk, but while targeting him with high balls could be an option for Fiji, Tuisova and the aforementioned wingers are also a significant threat to Ellis Mee’s awkward defence; Tandy will probably choose the one who’s more used to the role.

  The pack is composed primarily of high-work rate tacklers than powerful carriers; Wales can’t compete with some of the Top 14’s biggest powerhouses, but players like Ben Carter and Alex Mann could outwork the Fijians instead, who often make mistakes when pressured hard enough at the breakdown. If they can hold back Ireland’s phase plays, they should be able to do the same here. James Botham is another option at 6, and probably starts if Mann isn’t up for it, but on the bench he brings a good blend of physicality and versatility, with his breakdown skills giving him an edge over Plumtree.

  If Evan Lloyd fits any of the Championship’s matchups, it’s this one, as the setpiece is less of a concern here than against the Pumas or Springboks. I’ve also rewarded Reuben Morgan Williams for his bench performance against the BaaBaas, as he’s more of a solo threat than Hardy, while Llewellyn should provide the adequate bench coverage while bringing a strong late-game carrying threat.

  2026.06.30

• My Wales Team for the Barbarians Match – Nations Championship 2026

  My Wales Team for the Barbarians Match – Nations Championship 2026

  The last time Wales faced the Barbarians, there was a sense of finality; the last international game in the careers of Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric, and Leigh Halfpenny. This time, it’ll also be George North’s final game, bringing an end to yet another international representative of the golden years of Welsh international rugby. With the Barbarians due to play South Africa, we have a glimpse of what the rest of the opposition will look like, but for most of the squad, this kind of test will be the first of its kind.

  It’s also uncapped, meaning non-Wales-based players will also be ineligible. This will force Tandy to bring new players into the fold, not helped by many other established players having end-of-season injury concerns. However, much of the squad has recovered in time for the tests, leaving plenty of questions as to how the team will be built. Will established players be trusted to handle the physicality of the Baabaas? Or will new combinations be trialled to prepare for the higher-stakes fixtures of the Nations Championship? Why it’s in Twickenham the week after the PREM final is its own question.

  Anyway, here is my team to face the Barbarians next weekend:

  1: Gareth Thomas

  Thomas hasn’t been the most consistent player for Wales in recent campaigns, but with him and the uncapped Rhys Barratt as the only options, he should be the more well-equipped to handle the Baabaas’ experienced internationals. His chop-tackling skills will also help Wales’ range of jackling specialists.

  2: Dewi Lake

  Lake could be rested for the Fiji test, but after missing all the post-Six Nations action and with Ryan Elias playing as many minutes as he has, Tandy might want to give the former a chance to resync with international rugby. If Elliot Dee stays with the opposition, it’ll be a fun battle between the 2025 Six Nations hookers. 

  3: Dilon Lewis

  Well, Assiratti’s injury has come back, so we’re back at the tighthead Wheel of Fortune. Lewis was the second-choice behind Francis for a while, and it’s nice to see him back and playing pretty well for Dragons, having missed most of the season through injury. His scrummaging needs to be strong, but as the largest and by far most experienced tighthead, the 3 jersey really should be his.

  4: Ben Carter

  With there only being 3 Wales-based locks in the squad, the question is more about composition than selection. Carter had a great Six Nations, has played almost the entire season for Dragons, and is a persistent defender who can help physically bind opposing attacks. He was used largely as a lineout controller during the Six Nations, though that may take a backseat for a more physical presence, as he’s the largest lock available

  5: Teddy Willams

  It’s all coming together: Teddy appears to be back in full training following his season-ending injury in October last year, and he’ll need to be at his best to stay with the squad going into the Nations Championship. Like Carter, his defensive workrate and lineout skills are very solid, but his faster and more athletic carrying style gives him a real point of difference. If he can disrupt Elliot Dee’s lineout, it’ll be a real achievement.

  6: James Botham

  Generally, Alex Mann has been the first choice at blindside under Tandy, but not only does Botham offer more physical go-forward and has finished his season in great form, Mann has spent most of the post-Six Nations period injured, ad Tandy will want to keep one of his key players available for the Championship. Botham may get the edge in turn, but should more than seize the opportunity.

  7: Jac Morgan

  Like Dewi, Jac could be rested for the test games, but there are fewer available back-rowers relative to hookers, so this will likely mark his return to international rugby. Of course, Jac is no stranger to injury breaks, and equally consistent with how well he plays on return; he’s already won Player of the Match in his short epilogue with the Ospreys, and Wales will value his leadership and ruck work alongside the similarly abrasive Botham.

  8: Aaron Wainwright

  Waino is the only Wales-based 8 (aside from the more versatile Harrison Keddie) so this should be a given. Arguably Wales’ overall player of the season, his powerful carries are as instrumental to Wales’ attack as his workrate is to their defence. The BaaBaas have a very big backrow, but it’s nothing he can’t handle. 

  9: Kieran Hardy

  Honestly, who knows; Tandy’s barely used anyone besides Tomos Williams so it’s anyone’s guess between the 3 Wales-based scrum-halves. Hardy has almost always been the back up, though, and started the last uncapped game against the Springboks, so it seems like a safe bet. He’s a great support player who tends to score more tries than Williams on average, though he’ll want to show he’s more than a backup if he wants anymore gametime.

  10: Sam Costelow

  A more controversial pick, but Edwards has played almost 80 minutes of almost every game this year and could use a break, and it’s fair to say Costelow’s strong Six Nations form ended too abruptly for how well he played against Scotland. Even if Edwards takes up the mantle against Fiji, Costelow’s stronger defence makes him a good fit against the Baabaas, and he could use some minutes under his belt if he’s brought in for the Championship tests.

  11: Mason Grady

  Winger is a tough one; there are five main options available, 3 of which have faced significant injury spells towards the end of the season. Ultimately, Grady was in strong form before being sidelined, and his physicality gives him a real selling point should Tandy wish to rest players higher up the pecking order like Josh Adams.

  12: Joe Hawkins

  Tandy could decide the Baabaas game is the perfect ground to test a centre combo with Eddie James at 12. Then again, with how much disruption the rest of the team is facing anyway, sticking with the main centre combo is also a smart move. Hawkins hasn’t played much at 12 and has arguably been in worse club form than Ben Thomas, but he offers more physicality and ended the Six Nations well.

  13: Eddie James

  Is he a 12 or a 13? Really, he’s both, but this is his current position. With a powerful carrying game and a great skill for reading attackers, he’s a natural fit for the jersey when stronger teams come around, and it’d be surprising if Tandy doesn’t try to get as much out of him as possible in preparation for the World Cup.

  14: Blair Murray

  While I was fairly set on Grady, Murray presents an awkward conundrum; Ellis Mee is higher up my pecking order (and likely Tandy’s) but wing might be a better fit for Murray than fullback at international level given his inconsistent airgame. If they’re going to try it, this is a good testing ground, and Ellis Mee’s injury towards the end of the season makes resting him another concern. Still, Murray’s pace, agility, and strong kicking game make him an asset to the Welsh backline.

  15: Tom Rogers

  Similarly to Murray, this might be a good place to test Rogers’ credentials as a fullback, especially with Louis Rees-Zammit wanting to be a winger. His move to Ospreys suggests this is his preferred position, though he’ll have competition there as well. Either way, he’s better under the high ball than Murray, has a strong kicking game, and can just as comfortably attack on his own.

  BENCH

  16: Evan Lloyd

  Ryan Elias and Liam Belcher are clearly above him in the pecking order, but Lloyd is the only one of the three to really gain from playing this fixture. His X-factor is clear, but he hasn’t managed to translate his power into a strong performance at international level. To earn a spot in the Nations Championship team, he’ll need to prove he can cut it at this level.

  17: Rhys Barratt

  Barratt’s overall game looks good, but the question will be if he can maintain that output at international level. Like Archie Griffin, he brings a constant defensive presence, but his scrummaging has looked a lot better this season than Griffin’s. With a lot of competition among the younger looseheads, this is a good opportunity to show how he compares.

  18: Ben Warren

  Between Warren and Sam Wainwright, there isn’t much separating them; they’re both the third choices at their clubs, and haven’t amassed much gametime for different reasons. Wainwright is more likely to lock down the scrum, but Warren is closer to Lewis in skillset; he can carry well, tackle hard, and get work done over the ball. I’m expecting both to get gametime at some point.

  19: Ryan Woodman

  Woodman prefers blindside, but is just as comfortable at lock. Still, his relative lack of size make the bench a more tactical choice; keeping the scrum at full power for the majority of the match, then leveraging his carrying game later on. His lineout stealing skills are also similar to Teddy Williams, so it’s synergistically fitting for him to replace the latter as well.

  20: Taine Plumtree

  Discipline aside, Plumtree finished his season strong after returning from injury. He’s consistently been one of the Scarlets’ strongest performers, and his dynamism and versatility make him a natural bench pick for Wales on any given day. With the backrow most likely to be trimmed down, and the other players’ hold over the starting jerseys, a strong performance here increases his likelihood of featuring in the bigger games.

  21: Harrison Keddie

  The Baabaas have a big backrow, as mentioned earlier, so a 6-2 bench will help manage their physicality. Keddie is the only other backrower besides Mann, and has had a strong season for Dragons as Waino’s deputy, so he’ll likely play a similar role here; carrying hard into contact, adding power in the ruck, and landing powerful hits in defence. His versatility is also helpful, like Plumtree, and he’ll want to prove he can compete at this level to retain a place in the squad.

  22: Reuben Morgan-Williams

  Ellis Bevan could fit in here, as he likely won’t get much opportunity otherwise, but even with this being his fourth successive Wales campaign, it feels like RMW has had just as little chance. Being slightly younger than Williams and Hardy, he may be viewed as their successor post-World Cup, but he’ll need more gametime after some promising touches and consistent regional performances.

  23: Joe Roberts

  Roberts also had a strong end to the season for Scarlets, and while it’s strange to forgo an option for fullback or fly-half cover, his attacking mindset could be helpful in the late game. Should Eddie James move to 12, he’s a natural partner, with the two having worked together for the better part of 2 years, and he’s had a lot more gametime out on the wing this season, should the need arise.

  2026.06.20

• Welsh Domestic Rugby Season Review – 2025-2026

  Welsh Domestic Rugby Season Review – 2025-2026

  In what has started to become a familiar pattern for Welsh rugby, results in Europe ended primarily with Round of 16 appearances while in the URC, results fluctuated between the bottom and middle of the table. However, given the off-field uncertainty in Welsh rugby, all four teams should be commended for what they have achieved.

  Cardiff

  URC: 6th, Quarter-Finals

  Europe: Challenge Cup Round of 16

  Overall Grade: B

  Cardiff were largely written off early following the departure of Matt Sherratt, but even more optimistic fans wouldn’t have expected them to get as far as they did. Under Corniel van Zyl, Cardiff largely changed identities from a fast attacking side to a defensive team that’s very hard to beat at home; they lost one game all season in both competitions (the Scarlets derby) and were joint third in the URC for tackle completion (2% behind first place) and second for tackles made. This was also a statistical improvement on last season, where they had statistically the best defence in the league.

  The difference was more than numerical, though. Off the field, Cardiff have been largely successful with player retention and international representation, each speaking to the club’s solid standing at regional level. While Scarlets fell far behind their impressive showing last season, Cardiff stayed around the same place up until the end, beating most of the teams in their ball park consistently (granted, most were home games). Wins against Leinster and Stormers showed they could win the war of attrition against the top competitors, and very few games (Glasgow, Bulls, Exeter, and arguably Ospreys in the winter) looked like hopeless endeavours. Overall, if rumours of new signings prove true, Cardiff could well be on the up.

  Player of the Season: Tough call, with the playmaking axis of Callum Sheedy and Ben Thomas having improved considerably from last season, but Dan Thomas’ stats speak for himself. Top of the league for tackles made, near the top for turnovers, and Cardiff’s primary breakdown threat, he won multiple PotM awards as he kept the team in the game. While his relentless workrate isn’t unique in the Welsh game, his impact was clear as he consistently made starting XVs over established internationals.

  Breakthrough Player: Rhys Barratt deserves a mention after a strong season where he supplanted Southworth and Domachowski with his consistent scrum and defensive workrate, but Tom Bowen easily takes this. Receiving multiple requests from past players to be upgraded to the Wales team, Bowen built upon his limited showings last season to become a recurring member of Cardiff’s deep backline. His flair for try scoring his backed by a strong kicking game and unmatched agility, and while he may be too green for the senior squad, he’ll be an integral part of the U20s campaign.

  Underrated player: Easy call; having spent most of the season on the bench, out of position, or otherwise overlooked, Ioan Lloyd more than grasped his opportunity in the 10 jersey come the end of the season. While he can’t match Sheedy’s overall playmaking ability, Lloyd is a pure triple threat with his much quicker running game; Cardiff’s attack is completely transformed when he hits the field. 

  Disappointing Player: While evidently strong enough to impress Tandy, Sam Wainwright hasn’t really kept up with Assiratti or Sebastian in the tighthead rotation. Of his 11 appearances, 4 of which lasted longer than 30 minutes, two of which being the Bulls and Exeter games where Cardiff’s setpiece really struggled. The Scarlets had one of the league’s stronger scrums last season, but Wainwright hasn’t really boosted Cardiff’s pack in the same way, though he has shown glimpses of his potential at times.

  Dragons 

  URC: 15th

  Europe: Challenge Cup Semi-Finals

  Overall Grade: B

  It wouldn;t take much to improve on Dragons’ poor last season, but Tiatia has taken clear measures to ensure the region has a path forward, and towards the winter they really started to show how the team had grown. Strong showings against Connacht and Scarlets made it clear that at their best, Dragons can be dangerous with ball in hand while grinding opponents down with their physicality, defensive workrate, and multiple breakdown threats. While their attack still has a ways to go, and they very much remain a hot and cold team (compare their wins to their obliterations by Benetton and Bulls), the culture around the team is far more optimistic.

  Of course, with how their European run ended, optimism is a justified response. After Cardiff and Ospreys fell short, few would’ve expected the Dragons to take down Top14 title contenders Stade Francais, yet they punched above their weight all the way to the semis against eventual champions Montpellier. Under Tiatia, the team has more than redefined their identity and while the loss of Aaron Wainwright will be felt, they’ve managed well without him , so it remains to be seen how their new signings can fill the void. 

  Player of the Season: Wainwright is probably Wales’ overall player of the season, so this is pretty straightforward. Though he’ll be missed, a lack of injuries and his team’s improved performance has allowed Waino to go out with a bang, finishing as one of the league’s top carriers despite also being away with Wales for large spells. Still, Ben Carter deserves an honourable mention for his work in leading the Dragons to this point, in addition to his defensive work being among the best in the league, and rightly being awarded for it.

  Breakthrough Player: With Wales’ scrum-half depth only getting older, Che Hope looks to be the future of Welsh rugby in the 9 jersey. Though his appearances were limited by injury, those appearances were exceptional, keeping up with club internationals like Rio Dyer in attacking plays and briefly supplanting mainstay Rhodri Williams in the pecking order. Had it not been for his injury, he also would’ve certainly been involved in the play-off run in Europe, but he’ll only be stronger for the experience next season.

  Underrated Player: Aneurin Owen doesn’t really feel like a “breakthrough” player given his consistent performances for the region, but as the quality of the Dragon’s game improves, he rises to match it. 1337 URC minutes played, and similar defensive stats to the PREM’s Nick Tompkins certainly paints a strong picture of his abilities, and at 25, a Wales call-up seems likely at this rate.

  Disappointing Player: Though somewhat unfair given his injury profile, Mackenzie Martin was one of the few new signings for Dragons who didn;t really click, and he doesn;t appear to have been offered a contract by either Cardiff or Dragons to remain. Harrison Keddie and, of course, Wainwright, knocked him far enough down the pecking order to limit his minutes, with him only making 4 appearances and only one lasting 80 minutes. Without injury, it’s unclear how he may have faired, but ultimately, he wasn’t really needed.

  Ospreys

  URC: 11th

  Europe: Challenge Cup Round of 16

  Overall Grade: C

  It was more of the same for the Ospreys, but given the lengthy injuries dealt to Morgan and Lake plus the incredible adversity faced off the field, that is still an achievement. Barring their one-sided demolitions to Leinster and Munster, their URC run was marked by their usual tendency to punch far above their weight, taking down Ulster and winning the Welsh Shield off the back of their consistent derby victories (only losing once to Cardiff away).

  Still, their usually powerful scrum was the least powerful in the league; although Botha and Henry are comfortable winning scrum penalties, the scrum wasn’t the weapon it usually is, and the lineout wasn’t much better. Mark Jones has made some signings to try and cope with the considerable exodus of starting players; not just Lake and Morgan, but Jack Walsh and James Fender are notable departures. Where the team goes from here is the big question; disruption is inevitable, but if the Ospreys are anything, it’s resilient.

  Player of the Season: James Ratti won almost every end-of-season award for the club, and it’s easy to see why; consistently making powerful carriers into opposing defenses, it’s something of a surprise not to see him in the wider Wales squad. He looks more comfortable as a blindside than a lock, where he can focus on taking lineouts and punching holes. His physicality being a big point of difference in a relatively small Ospreys backrow, he won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.

  Breakthrough Player: No clear choice here; Ryan Smith easily wins signing of the season for the club, while Lewis Lloyd could develop into an international hooker and will only get more opportunities with Dewi Lake’s departure. Iestyn Hopkins wins this time, though; playing 4 times the number of minutes he usually does, and some impressive attacking achievements in that time too. With Dan John and Tom Rogers joining, he’ll relish the competition for starting spaces at fullback.

  Underrated Player: Usually overshadowed by his Wales international cousin, Steffan Thomas has been a real asset to the Ospreys’ scrum in Gareth’s absence. He’s the kind of prop that seems to be a rare breed in Wales; not particularly outstanding around the park, but a solid brick wall in the scrum that provides a platform for the rest of the pack. Usually behind Gareth and Garyn Phillips, he’s taken real strides forward this season.

  Disappointing Player: It was a good start, but Ross Moriarty didn’t really stamp out a place in the Ospreys’ starting squad by the end of the season. This is another case where there isn’t a clear option, but much hype was had when 50+ cap Moriarty signed only for him to be replaced by 3 non-internationals. Jac leaving will likely earn him more gametime, but he’ll need to work his way back in. 

  Scarlets

  URC: 14th

  Europe: Champions Cup Pool Stage

  Overall Grade: D

  There was a general sense of optimism this season for the Scarlets, who made playoffs the season before and entered as the predicted strongest Welsh region, but it didn’t take long for the warning signs to start. Winless in the first block, they bounced back quickly only to go back to losing ways in the Welsh derbies. Bringing in Nigel Davies helped get them a more solid foundation, and they certainly threw some punches against elite European opposition Pau and Northampton, but it wasn’t enough for any really tangible “win” this year. A draw with Dragons in their final game left them with some dignity, but there are plenty of problems to fix.

  Sam Costelow’s long-term injuries didn;t help, as it exposed the Scarlets’ plan to play the season with only one out-and-out senior fly-half; it’s a position too important to under-invest. Rumours of Gareth Anscombe’s return are appreciated, as are the numerous New Zealanders aiming to bolster the very Aotearoa-filled Parc y Scarlets, but a drastic change in strategy will be most important of all.

  Player of the Season: The Scarlets really like New Zealanders, don’t they? I was aware of Fletcher Anderson as an up-and-comer with Canterbury, but the impact he’s had on the Scarlets’ gameplay has been the highlight of their season. He only joined in the winter, yet found himself near the top of the carrying charts and was a constant get-out-of-jail-free card when the Scarlets needed a momentum generator. If the Scarlets played well, chances are he was a MotM contender. The Ospreys haven’t managed to keep Jack Walsh, but Anderson could be a real project player for Welsh Rugby.

  Breakthrough Player: Costelow’s absence was felt, but Carwyn Leggatt-Jones certainly held his own despite still being in his teens. While not to the same level as his influence at U20s level, Leggatt-Jones more than filled in with consistency at the tee and strong game management despite his inexperience. Josh Morse has also done well to have played as much as he has, though the Scarlets’ scrum was a pale image of last season’s strength.

  Underrated Player: A special mention to Archer Holz, who has kept the experienced Henry Thomas out of the 3 jersey and won MotM against Zebre, but Jarrod Taylor also deserves his accolades. Not a first-choice player, but always managed to find a way to contribute; over the ball, carrying into contact, and scoring plenty of tries. Yet another victim of the Scarlets’ persistent disciplinary issues, but has proved worth the price.

  Disappointing Player: Taine Plumtree seems to generate yellow cards wherever he goes nowadays, but his drop-off from last season is much less felt compared to Marnus van der Merwe. Strong enough to earn a Springbok call-up last year, Marnus quickly fell behind the returning Ryan Elias and never really got back in, though he was still a constant threat over the ball. He’s one of those valuable squad players who can bolster the set-piece, but when the Scarlets were struggling, he didn’t really do much to rejuvenate the pack.

  Welsh URC Team of the Season

  1. Rhys Barratt
  2. Ryan Elias
  3. Javan Sebastian
  4. James Ratti
  5. Ben Carter
  6. Fletcher Anderson
  7. Dan Thomas
  8. Aaron Wainwright
  9. Johan Mulder
  10. Dan Edwards
  11. Tom Bowen
  12. Ben Thomas
  13. Eddie James
  14. Rio Dyer
  15. Angus O’Brien

  2026.06.14

• Wales vs France Review – Six Nations 2026

  Wales vs France Review – Six Nations 2026

  Wales 12 – 54 France

  Despite the scoreline, this was a much improved performance from Wales overall, but the gulf in class was evident from the opening minutes of the game. France were too strong, too fast, too clean and too creative for Wales to earn enough opportunities to catch up from the visitors’ early lead. Dupont and Jalibert were a level above Williams and Edwards in game management, enabling France to utilise their French Flair to its fullest capacity and dominate on attack, scoring on almost all of their 2 entries.

  Where Wales need to improve is clear. Tandy has already announced plans to introduce a new defence coach in time for the Nations Championship, but the argument to fast-track one is strong enough; they can’t go a game without conceding 50 points, with France making 17 line breaks and beating 34 defenders. At half time, Wales’ tackle success rate was at (approximately) 67% and while they closed it to 80% by the second half, this is not enough for them to be competitive against teams of this calibre. There comes a point where simply complimenting the other team’s attacking structure isn’t enough of an excuse; twice France scored from cross-field kicks that Wales were completely unprepared for, and while their opponents aren’t as dominant in this area going forward, its an area Wales desperately need to shore up.

  Still, credit where it’s due for how the team responded to last week’s crushing defeat. Several players grew into their respective jerseys and make strong cases for persisting with them going forward. Meanwhile, the set piece was solid and consistent throughout, with the scrum holding strong against one of the best packs in the world and the dreaded lineout achieving 100% success. And after an embarrassing 16 penalties in the opening half of last game, 9 were conceded across all 80 minutes, only 3 more than France, far closer to the standard expected from international players. There’s a lot of work to do, but the small gains have to matter in the long run.

  Player Ratings

  1: Rhys Carré 7

  A strong showing overall. Usually valued less at scrum time than Nicky Smith, the Saracens man held strong against a powerful French pack and provided good showings in attack capped off by a deserved try. Consistently got the ball going forwards, which was a luxury Wales were rarely afforded

  2: Dewi Lake 5

  Lake was much better in terms of discipline and lineout throwing, but his defensive work was less flattering. He missed 4 tackles, far below his usual standard, and generally seems to epitomise what Wales do wrong in a lot of their recent matches. Came off earlier than usual, though it was an improvement over his previous form.

  3: Tomas Francis 5

  The only player with a real discipline issue in this game, but Francis more than made up for it with the scrum, steadying well against Jean-Baptiste Gros. Made some reasonable carries, too.

  4: Dafydd Jenkins 6

  Not one of his better games, but overall Jenkins contributed well on both sides of the ball and was the main lineout operator, a role he’s likely better suited for than Mann or Beard. Won a turnover too.

  5: Adam Beard 3

  Usually, a strong lineout his a sign of Beard having a good game, but he undid the work from last week with the decision to try and grubber a ball past Jalibert that lead to a French try. Beard didn’t really do much around the park besides limit Wales’ attacking opportunities with errors, and given Tandy’s reaction, he’ll be lucky to stay here.

  6: Aaron Wainwright 8

  Very much a three-way race for Wales’ best performer, but Wainwright takes it given his relentless drive to get over the gainline. Usually weaker than his backrow colleagues on defence, he was actually solid in this area despite being thoroughly outplayed by Bielle-Biarrey at one point. The most important man in the backrow besides Jac, and Tandy should probably appreciate that.

  7: Alex Mann 5

  Not normally an openside, and didn’t really slow down France’s ball much. Still, was Wales’ top tackler and made a lot of carries despite his smaller frame. A constant workhorse, but Wales need more power and breakdown skill from their 7.

  8: Olly Cracknell 4

  Highly rated by fans and pundits, Cracknell showed more of his limitations than strengths. Despite being a powerful carrier, Cracknell lacks the agility of other Wales 8s and was constantly evaded on defence, missing 3/11 tackles. Not much else to write about.

  9: Tomos Williams 8

  The driving force of Wales’ attack, Tomos was constantly under pressure but kicked consistently and was involved well on defence. Kept up performance-wise with Dupont, which is a huge statement, but clearly remains one of Wales’ best players even when struggling.

  10: Dan Edwards 4

  Not a great kicking game by comparison. Some more agility would’ve been helpful, as he fell off most of his tackles and couldn’t do much with ball in hand. Will have better games, but this wasn’t his best.

  11: Josh Adams 6

  Limited room to work with, but did well for the most part. Gutted to knock the ball forwards at the line thanks to Flament and Guillard, but was a solid presence on defence all things considered.

  12: Joe Hawkins 6

  A lot better on defence than usual from Wales’ 12s. Made some good plays and reads, but it wasn’t enough to gain go forward, especially compared to his centre partner. Should keep the kersey for next week.

  13: Eddie James 8

  Much better; really showed what he can bring on both sides of the ball. James has a broad and powerful skillset, as he brought pace and power in carries to consistently beat defenders. Strong defensive showing too, with 2 of his 8 tackles being dominant ones. His inexperience held him back a little, but it’s still early days for him at this level, so this was a big plus overall.

  14: Ellis Mee 6

  Good under the high ball, and his one break showed his carrying value, but wasn’t able to get into the game much. Defended against Bielle-Biarrey quite well, but was guilty of letting him score off a cross-kick he was completely unprepared for.

  15: Louis Rees-Zammit 7

  A lot of the same as last week. Topped the charts for meters carried, and pressured French defence well, although not enough to break them on his own. 

  BENCH

  16: Ryan Elias 4

  Lost control of the ball a little too often, but carried well otherwise and his lineout was decent.

  17: Nicky Smith 5

  Made some nice dominant tackles, and the scrum stayed strong, but Carré was a tough act to follow up.

  18: Archie Griffin 6

  More active in the loose than Smith, and generally performed better than Francis.

  19: Ben Carter6

  Game was effectively over, but Carter did well with limited material, with one good break and solid defensive work.

  20: Taine Plumtree 5

  Made some nice carries and broke his streak of cards, but his one break got held up over the line and nothing he did really impacted the game

  21: Kieran Hardy N/A

  More gametime than usual, but not a lot to rank. Almost botched a carry near the tryline, but his speed of service was good.

  22: Jarrod Evans 4

  Missed his one kick, though it wasn’t a great angle. Didn’t really speed up the attack either, but set up others well.

  23: Mason Grady 6

  Overpowered Bielle-Biarrey to bring him into touch, and finished a great passing maneuver for a try. Not much else he could’ve done.

  My Team for Scotland:

  1: Rhys Carré

  2: Dewi Lake

  3: Tomas Francis

  4: Dafydd Jenkins

  5: Ben Carter

  6: James Botham

  7: Josh Macleod

  8: Aaron Wainwright

  9: Tomos Williams

  10: Dan Edwards

  11: Mason Grady

  12: Joe Hawkins

  13: Eddie James

  14: Ellis Mee

  15: Louis Rees-Zammit

  BENCH

  16: Liam Belcher

  17: Nicky Smith

  18: Archie Griffin

  19: Rhys Davies

  20: Olly Cracknell

  21: Kieran Hardy

  22: Jarrod Evans

  23: Tom Rogers

  Scotland aren’t as physical as France, but they still have numerous threats out wide and in the midfield to keep up a powerful attack. All doubts that Scotland’s past achievements were behind them were quickly quashed when they comfortably beat England from minute one, so Wales news to start off quickly and remain consistent for 80 minutes; they’re struggling to do either, but that’s how you beat Scotland. 

  Beard’s poor performances once again see him replaced with more dynamic forwards. Botham comes in at 6 and Macleod comes in at 7; this is assuming Scotland field a similar backrow that they brought against England (Ritchie, Darge, Dempsey). Matt Fagerson is more of a carrying threat, but the former combo will make the breakdown a real contest, so Wales need to prioritise this area. The bench spot is tricky, but Cracknell should help counter Brown or Fagerson coming off the bench.

  I’ve also re-jigged the back three a little; Adams has been solid on defence, but doesn’t really have the pace to compete with high-end wingers, and probably needs a break after successive 80 minute performances. Grady’s size and speed should be enough to fend off Steyn while challenging him in the air, while Tom Rogers can cover the back three from the bench.

  2026.02.16

• Wales vs England Review – Six Nations 2026

  Wales vs England Review – Six Nations 2026

  England 48 – 7 Wales

  With England’s far stronger Autumn campaign and ominous form, most people were expecting a clear victory for the hosts to kick off their campaign. And they were right; England took the lead in just about every area, and were far more clinical and composed in their opportunities compared to their less disciplined opponents.

  For what it’s worth though, Wales did generally improve on last year’s embarrassment; tactically, they had a better idea of how to approach the game, and there were fewer awful performances and more solid ones. No one really stood out, though, and with a dire scoreline at half time, no one would be forgiven for expecting the sins of the past to drag them back into another demolishment.

  Both sides had moments of non-thought and ill-discipline, but Wales’ were more frequent and more costly, and their attack wasn’t ruthless enough to compensate. There’s no quick fix here; this is just the gap between both teams at the moment. There are tweaks to be made going forward that might be enough for Wales to bounce back later down the line (especially with how weak Ireland and Scotland were in their own opening matches) but with things as they are, the team will need to do better than that to avoid the Wooden Spoon.

  Player Ratings

  1: Nicky Smith – 3

  Against his Leicester partner, gave a poor account of himself in the scrum war. His yellow card was the deserved result of Wales’ constant penalty woes rather than his own weakness, but from one of the team’s more constant players this was not a great showing.

  2: Dewi Lake – 3

  Has come under fire for his lineout throwing, which was actually solid this game, but everything else was not. As leader, his own showings of poor discipline and mental fog did little but hold the team back for the first half, and his illegal maul takedown earned him a deserved yellow. Better second half, but there’s no coming back from that at this level.

  3: Archie Griffin – 7

  By default, the best of the front row, but Griffin generally gave a strong showing. Struggled in the scrum without his captain, but put in a solid shift around the park to compensate, making all 11 of his tackles. Couldn’t ask much more of him against a pack of England’s quality.

  4: Dafydd Jenkins – 4

  One of my favourite players here, but this was an underperformance. 3 penalties is below his standards, and while he topped the tackle charts as expected, his usual game intelligence evaded him as he also missed 3. Needs to to a little better

  5: Adam Beard – 6

  It’s weird to be lauding a player for achieving a 6/10, but with how much criticism he’s come under Beard actually had a pretty solid game. Underutilised at the lineout, he remained a notable presence around the park, making 9 tackles and 4 carries. Probably keeps his spot next week.

  6: Alex Mann – 5

  Did a good job winding up Ellis Genge and earning a penalty, and put in a nice shift on both sides of the ball, but ended up being taken away to accommodate the yellows. Quieter than his teammates as a result

  7: Josh Macleod – 6

  Not exceptional, but still belongs at this level. Great work to win a turnover and gave England consistent difficulties throughout his time on the pitch, aided by some decent carries, but England’s backrow has 3 7s and he’s not at their level.

  8: Aaron Wainwright – 7

  Pure workhorse, and arguably Wales’ best performer. Beat 5 defenders, and actually looked a match for the world class Ben Earl. Not enough power to keep them in the game, though.

  9: Tomos Williams – 6

  Needed more speed out of the ruck to counter England’s physicality, but kept a decent level of control when Wales had possession and was a persistent defender.

  10: Dan Edwards – 6

  Good kicking performance, especially for Josh Adams’ try, but was defensively a lot weaker. Can’t take all the blame for how comfortably Freeman and Dingwall made dents in the centrefield, but certainly could’ve done more.

  11: Josh Adams – 5

  Not a lot of opportunities, but took them well. Good account of himself under the high ball and scored the only try, but Wales couldn’t get nearly enough ball to him.

  12: Ben Thomas – 2

  Thomas’ festive season showings looked promising, but he self-destructed here. Missed 2 of his 6 tackle attempts and made persistent errors, like his brainless pass attempt to Rees-Zammit and his eventual yellow. Shouldn’t keep this jersey.

  13: Eddie James – 6

  Showed his potential with some strong carries, but Wales just couldn’t give him the ball enough. Good defensive shift too, missing none of his tackles when Wales hated defending the midfield.

  14: Ellis Mee – 5

  Not enough attacking plays, but was quite good under the high ball. Mee is certainly a player with potential at this level, but with how Wales are relative to the other Six Nations sides, they need to give him enough room to work with.

  15: Louis Rees-Zammit – 7

  Made a mistake in coming offside and completely flubbed one high ball; generally looked a little green at fullback at international level. Still, his one break showed his quality, and was much better under the high ball than Blair Murray in the Autumn, countering a powerful spiral bomb from Ford. Should stay here going forward.

  BENCH

  16: Liam Belcher – 4

  Could’ve given him an N/A given how little he really impacted proceedings. 1 carry and 1 tackle in 23 minutes, not his trademark workrate

  17: Rhys Carré – 6

  Deserves a decent score for a decent game. Constantly got Wales moving forward with ball in hand and made a case to start again the massive France pack. Didn’t help the scrum much, though.

  18: Tomas Francis – 5

  Quite anonymous, but nice to see him back on the test arena. Added some stability to the scrum when Wales needed it, but didn’t bring Griffin’s level of workrate.

  19: Ben Carter – N/A

  Should’ve probably been called in earlier given his defensive skills

  20: Taine Plumtree – 6

  Has had his fair share of yellows, but this one was harder to avoid given Pollock was mid-dive. Added a lot more dynamism in attack when Wales were lacking, and makes a case that the bench is his best position.

  21: Harri Deaves – 6

  Like Plumtree, minus the errors for the most part. Some strong carries and good defensive work, though England had Wales beat by that point and Deaves couldn’t do enough on his own.

  22: Keiran Hardy – N/A

  Tomos was pretty good, and with Dewi struggling, his leadership was needed. Hardy probably isn’t getting much gametime if this pattern persists.

  23: Mason Grady – 6

  Like Plumtree and Deaves, had the energy to match England and gave them a real challenge in the carry, but couldn’t reverse England’s momentum.

  My Team for Next Week:

  1: Rhys Carré

  2: Dewi Lake

  3: Tomas Francis

  4: Ben Carter

  5: Dafydd Jenkins

  6: Olly Cracknell

  7: Josh Macleod

  8: Aaron Wainwright

  9: Tomos Williams

  10: Dan Edwards

  11: Josh Adams

  12: Joe Hawkins

  13: Eddie James

  14: Ellis Mee

  15: Louis Rees-Zammit

  BENCH

  16: Ryan Elias

  17: Nicky Smith

  18: Archie Griffin

  19: Rhys Davies

  20: Freddie Thomas 

  21: James Botham

  22: Kieran Hardy

  23: Mason Grady

  Besides dropping Thomas for Hawkins, the backline did decently well for what they were given, so I’ve kept the system the same. Grady could start for some extra physical energy, though he offers more utility in the 6-2 split. Otherwise, power will be needed against the strongest team in the Six Nations, while aerial control remains a focus as France try to expand into this area of their game. Maintaining territory will be critical; possession and consistency in the 22 can give us the tools to keep France on the backfoot, as Dupont and Bielle-Biarrey will smell blood if Wales’ errors persist.

  The front rows swap as they have both the larger size and generally the strongest form after this weekend’s battering. I’d swap Lake and Elias if I could, but that probably won’t happen so it can stay as is. Mann and Deaves had strong games, but France have no problem overwhelming smaller backrowers, so Botham and Cracknell get in to help mitigate that. 

  Beard could’ve stayed, but I can justify giving Dafydd another chance as the locks will need to be more abrasive, and Carter has been in good form while Rhys Davies is overdue a spot. Freddie Thomas is an interesting one, as I would have him take Cracknell’s place at blindside; not his usual position, but he also provides a powerful carrying platform and should bring dynamism off the bench; his size and more consistent discipline gives him an edge over Plumtree, as Botham compensates for the lost versatility.

  2026.02.08

• My Six Nations 2026 Predictions

  My Six Nations 2026 Predictions

  The Six Nations timeline is a weird one. After the Autumn tests, it feels a long distance away, but over the Christmas period that time dissolves so quickly, and then squad announcements are on the horizon. I can still remember headlines and stats from the previous year’s tournament, and now I’m looking forward to see how those change on 2026. So for some fun, I wanted to run through some pre-week 1 predictions for the upcoming Six Nations.

  End of Season Standings:

  6: Wales

  On the plus side, Wales don’t really have much to lose here. On the field, at least; off the field, Wales are losing even harder, but they’ll still be nowhere near Italy’s “achievements” in the late 2010s even with a 3rd successive winless season. Tandy is still trying to rebuild Wales to a team that can compete with the Top 10 of World Rugby, and while the Autumn had some clear positives, these clearly aren’t issues that can be fixed within the first 3 or so campaigns.

  Wins over Scotland and Italy, which certainly aren’t achievable given their own problems, would do a lot to alleviate the pressure surrounding the squad, but with limited depth and experience Wales are likely to be working from a disadvantage from minute one. Tomos Williams and Louis Rees-Zammit are world-class, but the entire squad needs to buy in if they are to avoid the Wooden Spoon; they’ll need to own contestable high balls and front up physically to do so.

  5: Italy

  Italian rugby is on the rise again, but for what it’s worth this tends to happen a lot only for the Six Nations to give them some form of reality check. Quesada’s men need to aim for 4th as a benchline; anything less is a mark of little progress, and with Ange Capuozzo and Edoardo Todaro injured, their backline generally looks weaker than other sides. Still, Italy can leverage the advantage when opposing teams underestimate them, as Scotland can attest to.

  Much like the next team, that opening game will define their season. They lack the depth to handle the top sides, so their gameplan will likely boil down to breakdown control and territorial kicking thanks to Paolo Garbisi, while Brexoncello provides attacking threat in the midfield. It’s weird having their most important fixtures on both sides of the tournament, and we could see a completely different Italy by the end.

  4: Scotland

  Where are Scotland right now? Probably not in a good spot; after falling off against Argentina, they got booed out of the stadium by their own fans, and if they drop the ball again against Italy in Rome, their season is likely already over. That being said, they have a lot more going for than the previous two sides; Glasgow are arguably the form club in Europe, and they can certainly give England a scare. But Townsend seems to have taken the team to its limits, and it’s hard to bank on them scoring higher.

  We could see a reshuffle of the established guard with some newer players coming in. While the squad is relatively old, players like Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie have been in excellent form, and could come in on the bench or the XV should their skills be considered too valuable. Gregor Brown is also likely to be invaluable as a bench player, as Scotland’s 6-2 split could be incredibly dangerous.

  3: Ireland

  Where are Ireland right now? Probably fine. Still, Andy Farrell’s team need to show signs of transition with both their aging player pool and less-unanswerable strategies slowly fading out of the top spaces. They certainly have the talent to do so, and the selections of Edwin Edogbo and Nathan Doak show that Farrell has this partially figured out, but how he plans to use these players will define Ireland’s future style.

  With so many prop injuries as well, we probably won’t see the same level of scrum dominance, not helped by two of the stronger teams this time being great scrummaging sides. For Week 1, they’ve made some big decisions, like dropping James Lowe and putting Prendergast in charge at 10. But ultimately, it;s hard to gauge Ireland’s strength with how little is known about their current form; they should at least be stronger than they were in the Autumn, but challenging the top two seems to far out of reach.

  2: France

  Between the two strongest sides, it was very close. But after a relatively disappointing Autumn, the way France have approached this tournament feels like a big gamble; either they shape the future of their team in time to be World Cup contenders, or they fumble to England and go back to the drawing board. By trying to adapt to international trends, opportunities have opened up for different players like Theo Attisogbe and Anthony Jelonch, but how well they replace established stars is as of yet unclear.

  Galthie has confirmed that this is only the team for the first week and not the full tournament, implying players like Romain Ntamack could be called upon later. Plus, Bordeaux and Toulouse are producing players as strong as ever. If Jalibert and Dupont can link up well, they could be near-unplayable. If Mickaël Guillard can nail down a starting position that allows France to balance physicality with breakdown success, they could dominate collisions easily. But right now, these are unanswered questions, and it’s hard for a team with lots of unknowns to challenge for titles.

  1: England

  England are really scary. At the end of 2024, they were generally disappointing, losing to Australia and New Zealand by close margins and entering the 2025 Six Nations expected to finish 4th. And after that first game dropped to Ireland, they’ve bounced back to be one of the strongest sides in the world. With a consistent gameplan in mind, they can push just about anyone aside, and no one has really found a consistent answer to their depth and quality.

  France would be the ones to do it, with elite internationals like Antoine Dupont and Louie Bielle-Biarrey who can potentially break their gameplan apart. England don’t really reach the same highs, but trade that for versatility; they can mix up their backrow for any opponent, they have 3 elite international fly-halves, they have two different backlines with different skillsets to exploit defensive faults (Steward-Arundell-Roebuck for aerial control, Furbank-Feyi-Waboso-Murley for raw pace and playmaking etc.). It won’t be as flashy as France’s attack, but they should have everything they need to close out games. At least, provided Duhan doesn’t immediately destroy them again somehow.

  XV of the Tournament:

  1: Ellis Genge – will only further his claim of being the best prop in the Northern Hemisphere, especially if England win the Grand Slam. His carrying game will be difficult to stop and give England consistent advantages.

  2: Dan Sheehan – feels a comfortable distance above the other hookers, but hasn’t necessarily been in the best form. Marchand will put pressure on him, but Sheehan is just too instrumental to Ireland for him to not have good ball.

  3: Zander Fagerson – France and England will be busy testing each other’s scrum while Fagerson provides Scotland with a platform to thrive. Has well and truly recovered from injury, and will get valuable unseen work done.

  4: Thibaud Flament – is generally in better form than similar players, though up-and-coming teammate Mickaël Guillard will undoubtedly be an important part of France’s campaign like last year. Brings a more athletic edge to France’s forwards that few can replicate.

  5: Dafydd Jenkins – a bold prediction, with Wales being far from favourites and the other teams having locks with similar abilities, but Jenkins could really come into his own with the right support. Will be near the top of the tackle charts regardless.

  6: Cian Prendergast – with Peter O’Mahoney retired and Ryan Baird injured, it’ll be between Prendergast and Conan to claim this jersey for the tournament. And with the former’s youth and consistent regional form, he has plenty of room to cement his place in time for the World Cup.

  7: Sam Underhill – Earl may outperform him, but Underhill currently holds the England 7 jersey and his work at the breakdown will be valuable to regain possession and slow down France and Ireland’s ball. Carries harder than most 7s.

  8: Jack Dempsey – in excellent form for Glasgow, and should help carry Scotland through the more physically demanding contests. Has a strong all-around game, and while the shape of Scotland’s backrow may change, he will certainly be a part of it.

  9: Antoine Dupont – self-explanatory, but deserves a campaign where he starts all 5 games uninjured. France’s best weapon, so if they win, his inclusion will speak for itself. Jamie Dobie might be one to watch, though.

  10: George Ford – between him and Finn Russell, as unlike Ireland and France, they’ll nail down the starting jerseys more consistently. Finn hasn’t really peaked this season, and while he may be conserving his energy for the Calcutta Cup, Ford has been competing with the best for almost a year now. Could actually claim to be the North’s best 10 by the end.

  11: Louie Bielle-Biarrey – the obvious and boring pick, but he just keeps scoring tries. Will enter the top 10 of France’s all-time try scorers at 22 years old if he scores 3 more, and he has 5 games to do it. Seems a safe bet he will.

  12: Tommasso Menoncello – the clutch factor in Italy’s wins, and there shouldn’t be much competition besides Sione Tuipulotu. That first game may be an important decider, but Menoncello is never invisible, so expect him to continue in this spot.

  13: Tommy Freeman – what better way to own the transition to 13 than to beat out players like Huw Jones and Ignacio Brex to this spot? It’s a big ask, but with what he’s done already for Northampton, it’ll at least make for an interesting story.

  14: Immanuel Feyi-Waboso – arguably England’s best winger, and would have staked his claim easier if not for injuries. Needs a big statement to own the 11 jersey.

  15: Thomas Ramos – may end up as the top scorer, with his attacking prowess taking on a new role in an evolved French kicking game. As last year showed, France can put teams down in violent fashion, and Ramos will capitalise on every second of it.

  Try of the Championship:

  A weird one to “predict”, but if there’s been a trend in try highlights lately, it’s been props scoring from outside the 22, and no one is better equipped for this than Ellis Genge. Against who is a tough call, but if his repeated Player of the Match awards in the PREM and his form on the Lions tour proved, he could score some exceptional tries, and it would be interesting to see a prop beat out the wingers for this award.

  Player of the Championship:

  Nominees:

  Ellis Genge: England

  Antoine Dupont: France

  Jack Dempsey: Scotland

  Tommasso Menoncello: Italy

  Winner: Antoine Dupont

  If France win, it will inevitably come down to something Dupont has done or assisted with. While Jalibert may take some playmaking duties away from him, he remains one of the best players in World Rugby, and has had no problems winning this accolade in the past.

  Top Try Scorer: Immanuel Feyi Waboso 

  Freeman was the headline among England’s backs last season, but with his move to centre, Feyi-Waboso will likely aim to be their top finisher. While he faces stiff competition from previous record holders Louie Bielle-Biarrey and Jacob Stockdale, as well as in-form Kyle Steyn, his aerial work and sheer pace should see him high up the charts.

  BKT Rising Player Award: Kalvin Gourgues

  While Depootère will likely start ahead of him this season, Gourgues may be equally equipped as a bench substitute who can turn the pace of the game near its end with his pace. He’s already had a trailblazing start to his career with Toulouse, who have more than enough high-quality centres to drown him out, and he could easily push his way into the 23 with some consistent performances.

  Miscellaneous Wales Predictions:

  1: Louie Hennessey will earn his first cap, albeit from the bench

  2: Louis Rees-Zammit will start at least one game at fullback

  3: The Scotland game is won (by either side) by less than one score

  4: Sam Costelow will come off the bench instead of Jarrod Evans for at least one game

  5: Jac Morgan will be called into the camp for rehab, possibly appearing against Italy

  6: Tom Rogers will be Wales’ top try scorer

  2026.02.04

• My Wales Squad – Six Nations 2026

  My Wales Squad – Six Nations 2026

  After a mixed Autumn campaign and some interesting results at club level over the festive period, Tandy will be announcing his squad for the upcoming Six Nations. Among regional uncertainty, Wales will need to compete with an in-form England, full-strength France, still-growing Italy, as well as Ireland and Scotland, who’ve had their struggles in 2025 but still possess the strength and depth to compete with the best. Understandably, Wales are likely to finish in the bottom half of the standings.

  With England and Ireland away from home and France still being so strong, Scotland and Italy will be Wales’ best chances at ending their Six Nations losing streak. Still, it’s not all bleak; Wales ultimately improved as the year progressed, and while significant issues remain, their performances against Ireland and Scotland last year show enough promise that a victory is certainly achievable.

  General Playstyle:

  Overall, Wales played with the expected tactics; a playmaking 12, a team that can carry with agility and mobility over power, and a high ruck speed. Still, they fell apart defensively compared to their opposition, the lineout needed refining, and they were comfortably defeated in the air. Fixing these issues starts with selection.

  While Wales scrum improved overall (before being demolished by a more powerful South Africa pack), Wales aren’t really in a position to compete with top sides physically. For reference, what is generally agreed to be France’s strongest backrow (Cros, Olllivon, Alldritt) consists of 3 players who are at least 110kgs; across all of 2025, only Taulupe Faletau and Olly Cracknell are that large among Wales’ used backrowers. That’s not getting into the likes of Meafou and Antonoi, who are even larger again. Wales simply lack the options to compete in pure size (besides Rhys Carré and Dewi Lake), but mitigating this gap as much as possible will be a notable priority in selection.

  Wales also missed far too many tackles, leaving them vulnerable against the well-organised attacks of their opposition and almost cost them the game against Japan. More dominant tackles need to be achieved, as well as better openside cover as Wales were very quiet at the breakdown without Jac Morgan.

  As a final note, with Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake, and Aaron Wainwright so far confirmed to be leaving the Welsh regions, Tandy may need to prioritise Wales-based players to accommodate their elite internationals when they move overseas and keep a sufficient number of players in camp during international breaks.

  Props: 

  While Wales struggle for quality in this area, there was a considerable improvement at scrumtime to suggest it’s getting a little easier, though depth remains an issue.

  Loosehead is relatively straightforward; Nicky Smith remains one of the strongest scrummaging props in the Gallagher PREM, while Rhys Carré is an incredibly powerful carrier who makes great use of his size. It’s less a question of who will play and more of who starts. The third spot is more debatable; Gareth Thomas has held this position for a while now, but his performance dropped considerably in the autumn, while Danny Southworth and Garyn Phillips have put on excellent performances over the winter. Thomas’ injury will keep him out until the end of January, but with his experience and defensive work, you’d be surprised if he’s left out of the squad.

  Tighthead is the same old problem, though Assiratti has more than established himself as the first choice now, which at least solves that headache. His scrummaging work held out well against even the larger packs like New Zealand, and his carrying remains solid. Archie Griffin will continue to develop, but Christian Coleman remains injured after being taken off against South Africa.

  As almost all of the other candidates I’d consider are injured, the return of Tomas Francis from Provence is a major boost to Tandy. While he won’t leave France until next season, he has expressed an interest in continuing his Welsh career, and his size and ability to anchor a scrum is unmatched by Wales’ other props, especially as he has had far more gametime for high-flying Provence so far this season. Henry Thomas is his closest equivalent based in Wales, while Sam Wainwright and Rhys Henry offer younger options.

  With 2 out of 3 props on both sides of the scrum being based in the PREM next season, it isn’t ideal, and Southworth and Thomas could be called up to camp for training purposes, but with the limited options available, I think these selections strike the right balance of experience, scrummaging, and around-the-field prowess.

  My Choices: Nicky Smith, Rhys Carré, Gareth Thomas, Kieron Assiratti, Archie Griffin, Tomas Francis

  Injury/Training Cover: Danny Southworth, Henry Thomas

  Hooker:

  Dewi Lake remains one of Wales’ best forwards, but his lineout remains a persistent problem. Still, it’s not as though Wales are blessed with excellent lineout throwers, especially with Elliot Dee out injured, and none of them really compete with Lake over the ball, at the scrum, or in the carry. Liam Belcher is maybe not the largest option available, but he offers the most like-for-like replacement for Dee; his darts have been good so far for Cardiff, but his dynamic carrying is his point of difference. 

  Brodie Coghlan was the third man in the autumn, and while he has returned from injury, he’s barely played since November. Therefore, calling in a different player may be preferred. It’s between Evan Lloyd and Ryan Elias for me; Lloyd is the faster and more dynamic option, and though young, has clearly identified potential to be a superb international, while Elias has over 40 caps to his name and has been consistently strong for a struggling Scarlets side.

  Elias just takes it on his better defensive work and slightly more consistent darts, but neither excels in this area and Lloyd or Coghlan are similarly viable alternatives.

  My Choices: Dewi Lake, Liam Belcher, Ryan Elias

  Injury Cover: Evan Lloyd

  Locks:

  A combination of Dafydd Jenkons and Adam Beard was used in the autumn, but generally lacked dynamism and couldn’t resolve the lineout issues on its own. While both players retain their positions in my squad, as Jenkins is one of the most consistent players in the team and Beard’s experience and setpiece skills are invaluable, I think a new combination will need to be tested to physically compete with other teams.

  Ben Carter and Rhys Davies are generally stronger carriers into contact, and while neither can match the size of players like George Martin or Emmanuel Meafou, they can knock down defensive lines to create space for other players. Both have been in great form for Dragons and Ospreys respectively, and both are very consistent tacklers, averaging around 90% tackle success rate with plenty of dominant tackles and turnovers. 

  Freddie Thomas has held this position in the squad for a while, but his lack of international gametime in the autumn doesn’t do much to defend him. With him being based out of Wales, it’s harder to justify his selection over Jenkins and Beard. If Beard is injured, however, we may see players like James Fender being called up, as his size and lineout skills make him a like-for-like option.

  However, for the experience he provides, I’ve selected Jake Ball; though not a long-term call, he provides a similar level of power up-front, while he acts as a second experienced option if Beard is missing. He can realistically push for a starting spot, but can also drive standards around camp to help Carter and Davies understand their roles.

  My Choices: Dafydd Jenkins, Adam Beard, Ben Carter, Rhys Davies, Jake Ball

  Injury Cover: Freddie Thomas, James Fender

  Back Row:

  One of Wales’ deeper positions, though Jac Morgan’s injury means he will miss most if not all of the tournament, which is a considerable issue. While Wales have depth at openside, none of Wales’ opensides can match his all-around game, meaning that the backrow will need to be reshuffled to accommodate for it. Especially unhelpful is both Morgan and Wainwright’s announced departure from Welsh rugby; while Wales have good depth at regional level to support this, some players might be cut from future campaigns to ensure enough backrowers are available around camp.

  Still, Wainwright’s inclusion is a priority, as one of Wales’ best players, while Alex Mann should be retained for his Autumn consistency. He may not be the largest, but he provides a solid lineout and jackling option with his high workrate. Morgan Morse should also be retained; while he was limited to bench appearances in the autumn, he’s the full package on both sides of the ball and will only continue to develop.

  For the openside cover, Tommy Reffell should be recalled; while being based in Leicester will cause issues, his breakdown work and defensive consistency is hard to match, and he certainly has the experience required for the Six Nations. Josh Macleod could make a good deputy, though his tackle success rate so far this season has been relatively poor; 71% and 74% in both competitions. With how many tackles Wales missed last season, they may value James Botham’s physical edge and more consistent defence; while he isn’t a specialist openside, his versatility is very useful and his turnover rate is as consistent as Macleod’s.

  Olly Cracknell was also called up in the autumn, but with Morgan and Wainwright leaving Wales, he or Reffell may have to be dropped going forward. While Alun Lawrence or Morgan Morris don’t have the same power, the former is a very strong defender with a high workrate, while the latter offers more of a breakdown threat, and both are powerful carriers who are among their region’s better players. Lawrence’s more extensive gametime might edge him ahead, but either could work as a solid foil to Wainwright, making short and disposable carries that can aid Wales’ attack.

  Lastly, with Taulupe Faletau set to miss the Six Nations, Ross Moriarty’s international experience gives him the edge over Ryan Woodman; both can act as a stronger physical option to Mann, but with Lawrence uncapped and Mann, Morse, and Botham having under 20 caps, Moriarty can act as an extra carrying option who is certainly used to the physicality of the competition.

  My Choices: Alex Mann, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright, Morgan Morse, James Botham, Alun Lawrence, Ross Moriarty

  Injury Cover: Ryan Woodman, Josh Macleod, Olly Cracknell

  Scrum-Half:

  Tomos Williams is a nailed-on starter for as long as he is available, and his presence will be especially important without the talismanic Jac Morgan. Wales’ ruck speed was consistently high while he was on the field, and while he struggles to keep that quality high for 80 minutes, none of Wales’ present scrum-halves can compete with his game management and overall X-factor. Ball speed is crucial for phase-based attacking structures, which Wales will need to rely on against larger teams.

  Kieran Hardy hasn’t had the best 2025 at international level, but remains the strongest scrum-half based in Wales for his strong fundamentals and ability to effectively finish attacking phases. His performances over the festive period show how easily he can tear apart defences, while his kicking game continues to improve. Reuben Morgan-Williams backed him up against South Africa, but at regional level hasn’t really hit his usual stride, dropping him behind the others in the pecking order.

  However, Che Hope has entered the equation. Wales lack consistent quality among their younger scrum-halves, with no clear option to succeed Williams after the World Cup, but Hope has emerged as a serious contender following his exceptional performances for the Dragons over the festive period. While his game management isn’t at test-starting level yet, he can more than push Hardy for a bench spot and is someone Tandy must consider investing in.

  My Choices: Tomos Williams, Kieran Hardy, Che Hope

  Injury Cover: Reuben Morgan-Williams

  Fly-Half

  Dan Edwards has started to lock down the starting 10 jersey, as he progressively looks more and more comfortable at test level. While Wales will need to build younger depth with players like Sam Costelow or Ioan Lloyd, Edwards’ game management has been far more confident and consistent than theirs, but his ability to make quick breaks and seize opportunities to score tries gives him a serious point of difference above other Six Nations fly halves, let alone Wales’ options.

  More experienced players will likely back him up, as Jarrod Evans fits well into Matt Sherratt’s attack system with his ability to cover 10 and 12. His gametime over the autumn wasn’t particularly vast but he made the most of his limited appearances off the bench, which will likely be his role as he struggles to lead games when starting. Whether or not he is replaced by Costelow going forward will likely depend on how he performs here.

  Callum Sheedy’s experience with the squad and his consistent playmaking skills for Cardiff narrowly earn him the third fly-half spot, as few of the other options compete with him in these areas, while his goal-kicking kryptonite factor has lessened as the season has gone on. Angus O’Brien is another option who can more easily cover 15, but there exist plenty of other players who can do the same and he lacks Sheedy’s defensive merits.

  My Choices: Dan Edwards, Jarrod Evans, Callum Sheedy

  Injury Cover: Angus O’Brien

  Centres:

  Wales persisted with their playmaking 12, hard-carrying 13 strategy throughout the autumn, though Ben Thomas was replaced by Joe Hawkins after failing to perform against Argentina and Japan. Both are likely to be retained, though Hawkins has mostly played 10 for the Scarlets and has struggled defensively, while Thomas is back to his best form for Cardiff and has won two MotM awards in victories over Ulster and Racing, so who starts remains to be seen.

  Eddie James will aim to push for a starting spot too, especially with Max Llewellyn’s injury. He has all the fundamental skills for test rugby, his large size and powerful carrying paired with a strong offloading game being his best traits, and will be an important player to develop for the future. Covering both 12 and 13, he might push the smaller Nick Tompkins out of the squad.

  Lastly, some specialist 13s will need to replace Llewellyn. Owen Watkin is the most experienced option, and given Hawkins and Thomas’ defensive struggles, he should get in. Between the younger options, Joe Roberts and Louie Hennessey, they offer a quicker paced option though neither are as effective on defence. Hennessey better fits the power that Tandy wants from his centres, so I’ve given him the edge.

  My Choices: Ben Thomas, Joe Hawkins, Eddie James, Owen Watkin, Louie Hennessey

  Injury Cover: Nick Tompkins, Joe Roberts

  Outside Backs:

  I’m keeping fullbacks and wingers together for the sake of this blog, as there will be considerable overlap compared to last time. While one of Wales’ deepest player pools for international-level quality, the back three didn’t always perform consistently during the autumn, in large part due to difficulties in managing the high ball. With Leigh Halfpenny retired and Liam Williams struggling to reach the standards needed from an international fullback, Wales need to resolve their issues with the 15 jersey and nail down their best combination of wingers as soon as possible to compete with the quality of Europe’s best.

  While he has spent the majority of his career on the wing, Louis Rees-Zammit has firmly established himself in the 15 jersey for Bristol since returning to rugby union, and in a position where he can maximise his touches and start attacks, he could be similarly deadly for Wales. Blair Murray may be an excellent attacker, but he has struggled massively in the air and this leaves Wales vulnerable to the high ball. He may still make it in based on his establishment in the system, as Wales don’t have any real competition for in-form fullbacks with Cam Winnett struggling and Jacob Beetham’s limited gametime.

  Meanwhile, Tom Rogers should be a safe bet following his excellent outing against the All Blacks, making rugby history and continuing to develop at this level. At regional level, Mason Grady has fitted into his new role as a winger exceptionally, making for a uniquely powerful carrying threat that can be difficult to answer, while Rio Dyer is back to his best form for the Dragons. Either makes for a viable partner to Rogers on the wing, and I’d be surprised to see either missing from the international setup.

  For the last two spots, it’s between the aforementioned Murray, the experienced Josh Adams, and the rising star of Ellis Mee. Ospreys’ Keelan Giles may also get in, but perhaps overlaps too closely with Murray. Adams has been an excellent servant to Welsh Rugby over the past 8 years, but has struggled to maintain consistency in recent seasons and is progressively threatened as more players rise to the challenge for their clubs. Ellis Mee can’t match Adams’ portfolio, and both have been in similarly strong form for their clubs, notable for Mee given how much the Scarlets have struggled, but he remains a player worth investment who can cover both wings and fullback, and possesses strong game-reading ability for a player his age.

  How Tandy feels these players will fit into his system the best will likely prove the deciding factor, and quality players will miss out no matter what. But with how well the Scarlets back-three axis worked last year, and with Rees-Zammit and Dyer having considerable international experience themselves, I’ve taken the risk of dropping Josh Adams to the injury list.

  My Choices: Louis Rees-Zammit, Tom Rogers, Mason Grady, Rio Dyer, Blair Murray, Ellis Mee

  Injury Cover: Josh Adams, Jacob Beetham

  Summary:

  Wales may be underdogs, but there were enough strong performances over the festive period to suggest that the players are ready to compete at the Six Nations, especially with Cardiff and Ospreys’ European performances. While Wales had a difficult autumn on defence, they more than held their own in attack against their opposition, so Tandy will be aiming to build upon this in the Six Nations. In the opening two rounds of last campaign, Wales were criticised for their unimaginative and unmotivated attack; this time, it will certainly be different.

  Still, England and France being up first will no doubt present considerable difficulties; any positives gained from these encounters will be valued highly. Provided defensive shortcomings are managed, Wales have a solid shout at beating Scotland and Italy at home, but after the struggles of the past two years, any victory will be appreciated for developing Welsh rugby.

  2026.01.18

• 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