The likely final Wales squad choices as dozen places up for grabs
Wales coach Steve Tandy names his first squad on Tuesday, with new and old faces expected to make the cut
So far, much of Steve Tandy’s work as Wales coach has been reactive. Watching and listening.
Going around the grounds, speaking to coaches, taking in performances. In the early weeks of the season, Tandy – as well as new assistants Danny Wilson and Matt Sherratt – have been a visible presence every weekend.
In that sense, already an improvement upon Warren Gatland.
However, this week will see Tandy’s role change. On Tuesday, he’ll set the agenda – naming his first squad ahead of the upcoming autumn campaign. You can follow live autumn rugby updates here.
As he makes the first real call as Wales coach, he’ll learn that you can please all the people some of the time, or some of the people all of the time, but you’ll never cater for every one time after time.
The vast majority of a Wales squad will pass by without question, but there’ll be always be a few around the edges that come under the microscope.
Heading into Tuesday’s announcement, the vast majority of places are ones that most could probably predict. It’s the dozen or so beyond that which will make for interesting reading this week – with faces new and old well-placed to force their way back in.
As well as the usual uncapped prospects, the fascinating part of a new coach’s reign is the clean slate it offers to players frozen out by the previous regime.
Starting in the back-three, which has become a relative area of strength for Wales, there’s perhaps just one place up for grabs.
You’d expect Blair Murray, Josh Adams, Tom Rogers and Cam Winnett to make the squad, while Louis Rees-Zammit – if fit – seems certain to make his Test return.
Keelan Giles is deserving of another chance, having finally won his long-awaited first cap in the summer. However, he was a late withdrawal ahead of the Ospreys‘ clash with Glasgow on Saturday.
There’s also Ellis Mee to consider, after his breakthrough in the Six Nations. Don’t rule out Jacob Beetham either, with the one-cap international having demonstrated his versatility in the opening weeks for Cardiff.
But, really, the final spot in the back-three could come down to whether Tandy and his fellow coaches want to promote Wales U20s wing Tom Bowen this early or not.
The Cardiff wing has been in fine form for the Blue and Blacks this season, crossing for five tries in four matches and beating defenders for fun.
There’s already been comparisons to Shane Williams. In terms of form, there’s few better right now. The only question is whether it’s better to wait a little.
Perhaps, given the way he’s playing, the clamour could be hard to ignore. Right now, you’d say Bowen claims that final spot.
The midfield
Moving into midfield, you’d imagine Ben Thomas – having been a mainstay in Wales sides in the past year – will feature in the squad, as should Max Llewellyn.
Beyond that, no one is really scribbled down in ink.
The last man to wear the 13 jersey for Wales – Johnny Williams – hasn’t exactly pulled up any trees, while the Scarlets‘ early form hasn’t helped Macs Page or Joe Roberts either.
Keiran Williams has been in fine form for the Ospreys, with Tandy’s appointment offering him a fresh start after Gatland made up his mind on the centre after a 21-minute cameo back in 2023.
Nick Tompkins, overlooked in the summer, has been in fine form for Saracens and could force his way back into contention.
Roberts is admired by new attack coach Sherratt for his versatility, while he offers a left-footed kicking option. Williams of the Keiran variety knows how to make defenders miss, so hopefully the fact he also pulled out ahead of kick-off isn’t too serious, as a Test recall would be a fitting reward.
Moving to the half-backs, Dan Edwards ended the summer in possession of the fly-half jersey and should start the autumn with it. It’s just a case of who joins him.
Sam Costelow toured Japan in the summer, but the Scarlets playmaker has struggled for form at Test level.
Sherratt is an admirer of Jarrod Evans, while Callum Sheedy has catapulted himself back into Test contention three years after his last cap with some assured performances for Cardiff.
There’s also Joe Hawkins, who is back available to Welsh rugby again – having been captured by the 25-cap rule.
Sheedy is probably the form pick, but Harlequins fly-half Evans looked solid in the Six Nations when Sherratt brought him in and could bank on that again this around.
As for scrum-halves, Tomos Williams will be back after his Lions tour was cruelly cut short. Rhodri Williams didn’t feature off the bench in Japan, so expect Ospreys duo Kieran Hardy and Reuben Morgan-Williams to make the cut.
Up front selections
Moving into the pack, Dewi Lake is probably the only nailed-on hooker. Liam Belcher and Elliot Dee were the others in Japan this summer, with Dee seemingly unlikely to feature before the autumn through injury.
Ryan Elias is also sidelined, so Belcher and Cardiff team-mate Evan Lloyd – who has started the season well – seem the best bets.
With the props, Nicky Smith and Gareth Thomas are two of the three looseheads on Tuesday. Rhys Carre might have been the third, were he not captured by the 25-cap rule.
Garyn Phillips and Kemsley Mathias have been that third-choice in recent squads, while Corey Domachowski made his return from injury on the weekend.
Don’t rule out Cardiff’s Danny Southworth either, who has looked solid so far this season.
On the other side of the scrum, Archie Griffin and Keiron Assiratti are likely to be named in the squad. Henry Thomas is the next obvious cab off the rank, although Chris Coleman did tour Japan this summer.
Second-row has a couple of places up for grabs.
Adam Beard and Dafydd Jenkins are certainties, but it’s anyone’s guess after that.
Teddy Williams’ injury robs him of a place, with James Ratti, Ben Carter, Rhys Davies, James Fender and Freddie Thomas all possibly gunning for a couple of spots.
There’s also Will Rowlands, who has been playing sporadically for Racing 92.
Ratti is a solid choice, while the coaches are fond of Dragons captain Carter. Davies offers sheer size, while Fender has been tipped for a Test future.
As for Thomas, he seems likely to feature – with Wales understood to be keen on him not just as a second-row, but also as a blindside flanker.
Maybe it’s a case of Thomas and two others along with Beard and Jenkins in the second-row, but given the back-row depth Wales has, that only serves to push the hard decisions further back in the scrum.
Because, as we’ve long known, there’s a lot of quality to fit into the squad when it comes to the back-row.
Jac Morgan is the first name in the squad, closely followed by Taulupe Faletau – who showed his enduring quality on his return from injury on Friday night.
You’ve also got Aaron Wainwright and Tommy Reffell as pretty much nailed on. From there, it’s a tough job.
You’d expect the likes of Taine Plumtree and Alex Mann, who put in a player of the match performance, to make it.
But then, what about Ross Moriarty? Harri Deaves? Morgan Morse?
The Ospreys trio have all impressed so far this season.
Morse was desperately close to making the Wales squad this summer, while Moriarty offers experience and physicality that Wales desperately need.
As for Deaves, some have questioned whether his all-action displays would transfer to Test rugby – but he has his admirers too, with Tandy said to be one of them.
There had been suggestions Wales had been looking at Shane Lewis-Hughes, with Wales wanting an abrasive blindside flanker.
Whether the derby defeat to Cardiff, when Mann came out on top, has dented the Dragons back-row’s hopes remains to be seen.
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