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  • Wales vs South Africa Review – Nations Championship 2026

    Wales vs South Africa Review – Nations Championship 2026

    South Africa 43 – 0 Wales

    Predictably, the Springboks were much better than Wales. Because they are. For much of the game, Wales were on the back foot trying to hold off a relentless set of carries not dissimilar to the Argentinian onslaught of the previous week. A lesser team would’ve retreated into a shell of nihilism against a seemingly unstoppable force, but credit to Wales for keeping their heads in the game for 80 minutes. Even by the end, down over 30 points and scoreless, Wales were never timid or doubtful on either side of the ball, forcing their world-class opponents to take risks that didn’t necessarily pay off. Compared to their 73-0 demolition last year, Wales clearly had a plan to counter the Boks weapons, and they generally worked well; to be clear, the Boks scored similarly against England and Scotland, who are considerably more well-equipped to strike back than Wales.

    Still, the key problem with Wales’ performance can’t be ignored; yet another scoreless game, even against a team as potent as South Africa, can’t really be accepted as a “win”. The positives illustrate how far Wales have come, but it’s been almost a year since Tandy took charge, so you’d expect more than a mentality shift. The scrum went backwards at a rate of knots, the attack was blunt and felt futile in parts, and Wales had no real weapons to challenge a team of players who know how to win games at the highest level. Even when the Boks were clumsy and ill-disciplined, Wales couldn’t capitalise.

    Wales’ broader defence also hasn’t been great, though there have been slow improvements over the course of the campaign. Not statistically; they’re still only tackling 83% of the time, but that statistics hides the progressively improving scale of their opposition, while their scramble defence remains as strong as ever. The good news is that these weaknesses are tangible and fixable, the issue is that Wales haven’t much time to improve on them to reach the top tiers before the World Cup. The hope is that the second block of fixtures at home in the Principality will show a more cohesive, clinical Wales, without the travel stress of the away fixtures.

    Player Ratings

    1: Rhys Carré 4

    Lacks the agility of some of his comrades in defence, which showed with his 50/50 defensive record yet again. Held his own against the scrum, which otherwise got demolished, but couldn’t influence on attack either.

    2: Dewi Lake 5

    Played well for an injured man, though he was taken off a bit too early to make up for Wales’ mixed lineout. Traded blows with Malcolm Marx at the scrum, but there was only going to be one winner in the wider picture.

    3: Dillon Lewis 3

    The weak link; conceding 5 penalties is just an indefensible position, even against a scrum as potent as South Africa’s. Put up a much better fight around the park, stopping a try mostly on his own with a clutch turnover, but he’s not getting a higher score from that showing at the setpiece.

    4: Teddy Williams 4

    Weirdly quiet? He didn’t miss any tackles, but given how long he played, he only made 3. Did well in carrying, but for a player known for his workrate, you’d expect to see more of him

    5: Adam Beard 6

    His best game so far, as Beard’s physicality did a lot to help restrain the Boks’ maul and carries. Made 8 tackles, and generally did well to throw his weight around. Showed the value he can bring on his best days.

    6: Alex Mann 6

    A clumsy penalty aside, Mann did well to tackle everything in sight and cause some South African headaches. Missed a fair few tackles too, though, so falls behind some of his more consistent colleagues.

    7: Jac Morgan 7

    Did nothing wrong, just outmuscled a lot. Led the tackle count, as expected, though maybe could’ve brought some more turnovers at the ruck. Generally a consistent if generic showing from a world-class player.

    8: Aaron Wainwright 6

    On attack, very impressive, though the Boks were ready for his powerful carrying game. On defence, a lot less impressive, as he couldn’t translate that strength to hold back the Boks carriers.

    9: Tomos Williams 4

    Poor kicking and a fairly slow ruck ball against such a strong defensive team outlined Tomos’ difficult campaign. Like Argentina, he didn’t seem to know how to push the attack until other players gave him an opening, which is concerning for such an experienced player.

    10: Dan Edwards 5

    With Wales’ not insignificant opportunities in the 22, a goal kick for Edwards would’ve at least made the scoreline look nicer. Kicked better than his halfback partner and made some confident and clever attacking decisions, but his execution wasn’t consistent enough for them to matter.

    11: Ellis Mee 7

    Mee’s performance deserves extra context; being subbed into the side at the last minute and putting in a strong performance against the world champions should be commended, especially with his reliable aerial work. Continues to show real promise at this level, and looks increasingly comfortable with ball in hand; more so than any of Wales’ other backs.

    12: Ben Thomas 6

    Answered his critics well; this was one of his best international performances, though his defensive success rate still raises doubts. Constantly looked for work on both sides of the ball, and many of his created opportunities on attack didn’t fail because of his efforts. A far cry from the shy, inaccurate showings we’ve seen from him of late.

    13: Max Llewellyn 4

    I don’t really know how to rate Llewellyn, because most of his issues are similar to Eddie James’ where Wales don’t seem to have figured out how to use him. His defensive organisation wasn’t great though, and he shouldn’t be getting outshone by Ben Thomas on that front.

    14: Louis Rees-Zammit 4

    Very passive, unlike Ellis Mee and Joash Adams. Can be dangerous with the ball in hand, but this was the game for him to show his defensive skillset. He didn’t.

    15: Blair Murray 4

    Very mixed, as he actually held his own in the air, and seems to have quietened that Kryptonite factor, but his defence wasn’t the best. He was regularly missing when the Boks broke the line, and the backline was largely an uncoordinated string of players he should’ve martialed better.

    BENCH

    16: Ryan Elias 6

    Actually very good. Though his first missed tackle led to a Springbok try, Elias did well to front up physically against such opposition, with a considerable haul of carries and tackles relative to his team. His discipline and lineout throwing was off the mark, though.

    17: Nicky Smith 4

    Didn’t really help the scrum much, but put in a better shift around the park than the earlier props.

    18: Ben Warren 3

    A clumsy tackle led to a yellow card at an inconvenient time, letting the Boks close out the game without much resistance.

    19: Freddie Thomas N/A

    Barely noticeable off the bench

    20: Tommy Reffell 3

    Not doing his future Wales chances much favour; after being controversially dropped by Tandy, Reffell barely got any work done off the bench, not that he was alone in that regard.

    21: James Botham 6

    As per usual, threw himself across the field with reckless abandon, and easily the best of Wales’ bench. Couldn’t compete with Paul de Villiers on his own, but was far less passive than some of his compatriots towards the end of the contest.

    22: Reuben Morgan-Williams N/A

    Has potential, but needs to be used more by Tandy. Kept Wales’ ball moving well.

    23: Joe Hawkins 6

    Playing in a less familiar 13 jersey after Max Llewellyn’s injury, Hawkins put in a solid performance on both sides of the ball. Unfortunately turned over on an otherwise promising carry, and didn’t get much more opportunity to control the game.

    Wales Nations Championship 2026 Overall Review

    On paper, Wales have achieved what they set out to do: beating the Barbarians with a lot of 2nd choice and uncapped players, comfortably handling Fiji, and putting in determined performances against Argentina and South Africa. They finished 11th in the world rankings; where they started, but with the gap closed by Fiji and Italy’s abysmal winless showings. 

    That said, the win against Italy was supposed to be a benchmark of Wales’ quality going into future contests. Since then, Wales seem to have gone backwards on a few fronts; they genuinely can’t seem to break lines through any avenues beyond the pure power of Carré and Wainwright, their backline lacks purpose and cohesion, and their first line of defence is mostly non-existent, relying on the quick reflexes and athleticism of their forwards to scramble defence. The setpiece is strong, but not dominant enough to be a reliable option to gain ground. Their playmaking fluctuates between unimaginative in strategy and inconsistent in execution. And with all the legitimate quality and promise a lot of players have shown this season, only about half the starting 15 has truly been locked down if they were to play a World Cup match tomorrow.

    Needless to say, Tandy’s work in rebuilding the national side is not done. The team should be commended for how far they’ve come, and sides from both inside and outside Welsh Rugby believe they are on the right path, but it goes without saying that it hasn’t been smooth sailing. There remain multiple significant questions that will need to be answered before they can start to win games against elite opposition. 

    Key Issues for the 2nd Block:

    1. Who starts at 12: Eddie James has been one of Wales’ most consistent performers at 13, and that’s slowly becoming his most played position at club level too. But is he better utilised at 12, where he could make more touches, more tackles, and draw in defenders to let Wales exploit wider channels? Joe Hawkins is certainly an international player for the future, but he’s struggled to offer the same go-forward in attack as his Scarlets teammate. Both the regional and national team need to work together to determine how both players are best utilised.
    2. Who starts at 10: This looked to be a question Wales had solved by the time Tandy took over, but Dan Edwards still hasn’t developed into a complete international. Sam Costelow holds his own as a player, offering more defence and game control, and may end up offering better synergy with James at 12. Jarrod Evans and Callum Sheedy at Cardiff will also look to break through in time for the World Cup.
    3. Back Three: Ellis Mee continues to grow every campaign, but as one of Wales’ deepest positions, he faces notable competition from Josh Adams and Louis Rees-Zammit, both of whom bring their own strengths. Rio Dyer and Mason Grady will also try to break into a starting lineup, as will Tom Rogers and Gabriel Hamer-Webb. That’s not even getting into fullback Blair Murray is one of Wales’ most exciting attackers, but his aerial weaknesses necessitate the conversation of whether he is the best choice. Angus O’Brien and Cameron Winnett, who are among their clubs most reliable players, will look to replace him.
    4. Composition of the back row: Jac Morgan and Aaron Wainwright aside, much discussion remains about how to build from there. Alex Mann is a great tackle machine and lineout taker, but does he offer enough go-forward in attack, or would Ryan Woodman’s bulk be more valuable? The 8 jersey also seems entirely contingent on Wainwright’s availability, as between Morse, Kane James, and Olly Cracknell, neither have really established themselves as a backup. Again, not a position where Wales lack quality, but questions will be asked about the direction taken.
    5. Coaching Setup: I think this is more trouble than it’s worth, given the WRU’s complete failure to establish a complete coaching setup a whole year after Gatland’s departure, but Matt Sherratt and Peter Murchie’s impact on the side isn’t entirely clear. The latter can largely be excused due to a lack of time, but Wales need to be scoring more often than 4 times a game, to say nothing of their limited versatility in attack. Opposing coaches won’t wait for Wales to develop new weapons; they’ll counter their existing plans if new ones aren’t worked on.

    Overall, it’s hard to quantify Wales’ success by the end of this campaign, as they haven’t really gone anywhere since the Italy victory. They’re at a similar level to Italy, Fiji, and Japan, and have beaten all three this season, but as other results have shown, there is a gap between this group and the next one, and Wales have a lot to do before they can really close it. Then again, Eddie Jones has been in charge of Japan for three years, and only now have they started racking up consistent performances against other tier 1 opposition, so as long as Wales keep reflecting, reviewing, and improving, that time will come. 

  • 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

    1. Ryan Elias
    2. Nicky Smith
    3. Ben Warren
    4. Teddy Williams
    5. Taine Plumtree
    6. James Botham
    7. Reuben Morgan-Williams
    8. 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.

  • 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

    1. Ryan Elias
    2. Nicky Smith
    3. Sam Wainwright
    4. Teddy Williams
    5. James Botham
    6. Reuben Morgan-Williams
    7. Dan Edwards
    8. 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.

  • 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

    1. Evan Lloyd
    2. Nicky Smith
    3. Ben Warren
    4. Adam Beard
    5. James Botham
    6. Reuben Morgan-Williams
    7. Sam Costelow
    8. 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

  • Wales Nations Championship Squad Reaction – Summer 2026

    Wales Nations Championship Squad Reaction – Summer 2026

    With 6 uncapped players, several recalls, and some surprising omissions, there’s a lot to discuss about the new-look Wales squad for the upcoming Nations Championship. With four games to play, including an uncapped Barbarians fixture on the 27th of June, the larger squad size is an indications of Tandy’s choice to maximise his depth of options and look at as many players as possible who could be in the frame for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. 48 is slightly higher than Fiji’s 45-man squad, but Tandy has stressed that after the 27th, there will be an updated set of players who will travel to San Juan to play Argentina; how much the squad will be trimmed is to yet to be seen.

    PROPS

    If you’ve read my initial squad prediction, half of this will look familiar. At loosehead, Nicky Smith and Rhys Carré have been strong performers in recent campaigns and Gareth Thomas has certainly proven capable of getting the job done at this level in the past, recent form aside. From there, Rhys Barratt has been nominated as an uncapped 4th player for the Barbarians test, one he deserves having started most of Cardiff’s games this season and scrummaged well above his weight class. How well his attributes carry on the international stage will be tested, but his workrate is hard to deny.

    At tighthead, it’s a lot more interesting. Tomas Francis has been rested to manage his minutes for the World Cup, and Archie Griffin has undergone elective surgery, so Kieron Assiratti should remain the front-runner. The again, the return of Dillon Lewis presents an interesting prospect; he;s missed most of the Dragons’ season through injury, but has played brilliantly on his return and certainly has the experience to back up his merits. Sam Wainwright continues with the squad after the Six Nations, but Ben Warren’s recall is also warranted, as both a strong scrummager and powerful carrier, one could see him challenging Archie Griffin for a starting jersey in some years time.

    HOOKER

    Despite his injury, Dewi Lake has been recalled into the Wales camp, though when exactly he’ll return is unclear. Ryan Elias will likely serve as the first choice unti then given his strong form at club level and consistent performances throughout the Six Nations. Interestingly, neither Lake nor Jac Morgan have been named as captain, as Tandy plans to make this choice later in the summer.

    Interestingly, there is no recall for Elliot Dee, despite his solid form for Dragons and his past international experience. Perhaps Tandy prefers Liam Belcher’s higher workrate and stronger carrying game; the Cardiff captain also brings leadership qualities that Tandy tends to look for from his older players. Similarly, Evan Lloyd has been selected over Brodie Coghlan; though having a mostly less reliable setpiece, Lloyd is a lot faster than the other hooker options, and could bring considerable dynamism off the bench if he impresses Tandy.

    LOCKS

    Mostly predictable; Dafydd Jenkins & Ben Carter continue their powerful partnership from the Six Nations, while Adam Beard has been retained despite his less-than-stellar campaign. Freddie Thomas also earns a recall, though Gloucester tend to prefer deploying him at blindside than in the second-row. His bench utility will be helpful, as an aggressive, forward-charging lock. Rhys Davies’ omission is unfortunate, but certainly seems to be next in line.

    Teddy Williams’ return, however, is much appreciated provided he’ll be back in time for the Barbarians game. Without Davies, only he, Carter, and Woodman will be available, so hopefully he recaptures the form he showed against Japan last summer He may be better suited for a bench role against Carter and Jenkins as he lacks their power but brings more speed, while his defensive workrate is something Tandy clearly values from his second-rowers.

    BACK ROW

    A beefy category with a lot to talk about. The prodigal son’s return aside, a backrow combo of Mann, Morgan, and Wainwright seems most likely; no need to fix what isn’t broken, though James Botham may work his way in. Taine Plumtree and Olly Cracknell remain after mixed performances from the Six Nations, but their unique qualities are obvious to those who’ve seen them at their best.

    After many requests, Tommy Reffell makes his return to action as the likely backup 7 to Jac Morgan. Then again, the combo of Morgan at 6 and Reffell at 7 worked well for Wales in the 2025 Six Nations, so that’ll always be an option if Wales want to target the breakdown. His more frequent leadership experiences at Leicester will be valuable around camp as well.

    Ryan Woodman offers a larger and more physical option to Alex Mann at blindside, and is certainly someone who will interest Tandy going forward, but Harrison Keddie is the more interesting pick. Uncapped at 29, his versatility across the backrow and strong form during the Dragons’ playoff rush in Europe earn him a spot. Whether or not he’ll be retained when they cut down the squad will be interesting, though, as he otherwise doesn’t have an obvious standout attribute.

    Lastly, following his return from injury, Kane James has elected to throw his lot in with Wales. Starring for England U20s in the 2025 U20s Six Nations, James has a more dynamic carrying style than the larger Wainwright and Cracknell at 8, though is no less efficient when it comes to scoring tries. He’s quickly worked his way into Exeter’s senior 23, and if he stays with the squad, he’ll be making another step up to international rugby, but with Wales lacking much youth at 8 besides Morgan Morse, Kane James gives a different but equally effective option for Tandy to look at.

    SCRUM-HALF

    As predicted, the same 3 from the Six Nations Squad remain. A consistent issue has been Tomos Williams’ complete monopoly over the 9 jersey, as Hardy and Morgan-Williams haven’t had much chance to show their skillsets when they only get to play around 5 minutes a game. With Tomos missing from the Barbarians fixture, it’ll be interesting to see how Tandy reshuffles things, as Hardy hasn’t really impressed when he’s been in the drivers’ seat.

    To compensate for the ageing depth in the position, Ellis Bevan has been added to the squad; while Archie Hughes or the injured Che Hope are younger options, Bevan has the experience of previous Wales camps under Warren Gatland, so it makes sense for Tandy to want to see what he;s capable of. Dane Blacker can feel hard done by, though.

    FLY-HALF

    One of the more understated but interesting selections. These are the three most popular options, but of the three, Sam Costelow and Jarrod Evans are both injured, which begs the question of how Tandy plans to cover the position should they fail to recover in time for the start of the tour. Joe Hawkins seems the most likely option, given how much rugby he’s played there for Scarlets, but it’s hardly ideal.

    Luckily, Dan Edwards can more than lead the way in this position; after a strong end to his Six Nations campaign, Edwards is likely to be the Ospreys’ star player with Jac and Dewi leaving, and his attacking flourish gives him a serious edge at this level. Definitely one player to watch this summer, as he’ll aim to widen the gap between him and Costelow.

    CENTRES

    Surprisingly, Tandy has selected a lot of centres for this summer tour, suggesting a desire to try out multiple different combinations. Joe Hawkins and Eddie James will be the safe bet to continue their partnership from the Six Nations, but with many believing James would be better suited at 12 than 13, we could see a different look to Wales’ midfield by the end.

    Max Llewellyn and Joe Roberts have been included off the back of their excellent form for club level, and Llewellyn will look to continue his partnership with Ben Thomas. Thomas himself has been one of Cardiff’s bets players this season, though at international level he looks a few levels behind Hawkins, which may hurt his colleague. Roberts, meanwhile, was considered a great partner for James in midfield this time last year, and his pace out wide would be a strong weapon alongside the larger man’s carrying power.

    More eye-catchingly, Louie Hennessey has been retained after starting for Bath in the Champion’s Cup semi-final, and his Wales U20s partner Bryn Bradley has been called in. Bradley is especially interesting as his playstyle is more similar to Eddie James, but he is explicitly an inside centre for Harlequins, leaning credence to the theory that Tandy wishes to build his midfield that way.

    OUTSIDE BACKS

    The same outside backs as the Six Nations, though now we have a clearer understanding of where they all fall in the pecking order. Josh Adams’ experience makes him the most likely starter, while Ellis Mee generally occupies the other wing, though his injury makes it unclear when he will be available for selection. Gabriel Hamer-Webb is another potential starter, as he’s only gotten better as he gets more game time for Leicester Tigers, though he’ll be missing for the Barbarians test.

    Mason Grady also gets in, despite also being injured, so Rio Dyer can feel hard done by given his persistently strong form for Dragons. So can Jacob Beetham, who’s also been crucial to the end of Cardiff’s season, and especially considering the unresolved issues at fullback. Louis Rees-Zammit hasn’t really clicked with the role yet at this level, and Blair Murray still struggles with handling contested high balls, so Tom Rogers may be on the cards for the Barbarians test, especially given his move to Ospreys seems motivated by his desire to play 15.

  • My Wales Nations Championship Team – Summer 2026

    My Wales Nations Championship Team – Summer 2026

    With the Nations Championship on the horizon, Wales will look to build upon their much improved showing towards the end of the Six Nations amid regional uncertainty in an all-new competition. Faced with the strongest teams in the Southern Hemisphere, this will present a considerable challenge given how comfortably South Africa and Argentina defeated them in the Autumn, but it presents an exciting opportunity to show how much the squad has improved since then under Tandy. While most of these fixtures are likely too much for Wales in their current state, they will target home wins over Fiji, Japan, and Australia, who have their own struggles to exploit.

    Being the first of its kind, it’s difficult to predict what exactly Tandy will opt to do with his initial draft. To those unaware, the Nations Championship will run in two separate blocks; one in July, the other in November. Most teams seem to be assembling training squads of over 40 players (even Fiji, the only tier 2 nation in the tournament, has a 45 man training squad), and then narrowing them down to travel. Wales will likely do something similar; a training squad of around 42-45, then a final travelling team to take on Argentina and South Africa in the summer before tweaks are made for the Autumn.

    There’s also a Barbarians fixture just before the tournament begins, which falls outside of the international window. As a result, extra players will be fielded to accommodate this, and it can serve as an extra audition for home-based players to stake their claim for the travelling squad.

    With all that said, I’ll be discussing my picks for the summer block of the 2026 Nations Championship.

    PROP

    Props are simultaneously well-established, but depth remains a concern. On the loosehead side, Nicky Smith and Rhys Carré are sure to travel, as they remain two of PREM rugby’s most reliable props; the latter is more likely to start, given his excellent Six Nations form, but they’re similarly effective. On the other side, Tomas Francis has also been an excellent scrummager, massively improving the consistency of Wales’ setpiece, while Kieron Assiratti returns from injury and will look to continue his form from the Autumn. His results for Cardiff have been shaky, but he’s usually better on the international field.

    The Barbarians fixture complicates things, however, as both of Wales’ starting props are based outside of Wales, and there’s been little development given to other players beneath them. Gareth Thomas is a safe bet, as despite his inconsistent form, he is a proven international and solid scrummager. Danny Southworth travelled with the squad in the Autumn, but has been usurped by the younger Rhys Barratt for Cardiff. Barratt has the most consistent scrummaging record of the remaining looseheads, and makes a lot more tackles than any of them, though Kemsley Mathias and Garyn Phillips have had strong moments of their own.

    On the tighthead side, Archie Griffin won’t be available for the Barbarians game, but has been a constant when fit. His form may limit his gametime, but since returning from injury, Christian Coleman has performed very well for the Dragons in Europe. Adam Jones has noted his international potential before, though he has yet to prove this in his two appearances so far. Ben Warren of the Ospreys is also a strong carrier and scrummager, while Sam Wainwright could return after being recalled in the Six Nations. 

    Against a scrum as powerful as South Africa, the front row will need to be at their best. Any selection of the aforementioned props will be justified.

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

    Injury Cover: Danny Southworth, Ben Warren

    HOOKER

    Inconveniently, Dewi Lake has undergone surgery for his shoulder injury and is unlikely to tour, at least initially.  This at least gives Tandy the chance to look into Wales’ depth beneath that, especially with both Ryan Elias and Elliot Dee available and playing well. Their experience will be extremely valuable against the world-class set pieces of the Southern Hemisphere, though Elias is likely ahead in the pecking order after a strong Six Nations showing and his much improved lineout darts.

    A space may be saved for Lake’s return, so one more hooker is reasonable. Liam Belcher was this man in the Six Nations, but his lineout darts have been inconsistent for Cardiff and Elliot Dee shares a lot of his strengths, so he may be deemed excess resources. Brodie Coghlan, meanwhile, is very strong for his age and is also very active in the loose. He didn’t leave the biggest impression in the Autumn, but having returned from injury and helped the Dragons reach a European semi-final, he looks the more reliable option.

    My Choices: Ryan Elias, Elliot Dee, Brodie Coghlan

    Injury Cover: Liam Belcher

    LOCK

    This feels like a problem position, as most of Wales’ locks are based outside the country and not all of them are fit or in great form. Dafydd Jenkins and Ben Carter are excellent, however, managing an exceptional workrate with good leadership and lineout work, while still being large enough to carry into contact. Adding to that, Rhys Davies adds even more ballast in physical confrontations, and has had a solid season with the Ospreys.

    If Teddy Williams was fit, those four would form a well-balanced and exciting combination, but with him missing out, Adam Beard is likely being retained for his lineout management and experience. His Six Nations performance was poor, but Montpellier are achieving great things in the TOP14 and Challenge Cup and he regularly plays 80 minutes for them. The options underneath him have less to work with by comparison.

    Freddie Thomas was part of the Six Nations squad and is probably the best alternative to Beard, though having been part of the squad since Autumn 2024, his impact hasn’t really been felt. James Fender and Seb Davies play similar roles to Beard, but their recall would be surprising, as would the recently recovered Christ Tshiunza. James Ratti, meanwhile has been in much stronger form for the Ospreys, though mostly at blindside flanker. Still, Tandy and Sherrat have deployed him at lock, and his versatility could earn him a bench spot for the Barbarians test.

    My Choices: Dafydd Jenkins, Ben Carter, Rhys Davies, Freddie Thomas, James Ratti

    Injury Cover: Adam Beard, Christ Tshiunza

    BACK ROW

    Jac is Back! As one Welsh captain leaves, another enters. While the combo of Alex Mann, James Botham, and Aaron Wainwright worked wonders towards the end of the Six Nations, only Waino is really a match for Jac’s world-class qualities. Those four in combination are a balanced set that can challenge opposing breakdowns and set the physical tone for the rest of the squad, and the remaining picks will mostly be players who can synergise or cover in the case of injuries.

    Firstly, though his disciplinary weaknesses are well-documented, Taine Plumtree comfortably fits in due to his versatility and dynamism. He shouldn’t start, but Wales have struggled to make good use of their bench and Plumtree is a prime candidate to explore that option. Also being retained from the Six Nations, Ryan Woodman has continued his strong form and could surpass Alex Mann at blindside in the future given his larger size and stronger carrying game. He also adds extra cover at lock, as Wales-based locks will be needed for the Barbarians game.

    As for the remaining 3 spaces, some 8 cover will be needed. Olly Cracknell remains in strong form for Leicester and played well against Japan, but otherwise hasn’t been too noteworthy, and with Wainwright joining the Tigers in September, his continued place in their starting squad isn’t guaranteed. Taulupe Faletau is once again injured, so new faces may be warranted. Alun Lawrence and Morgan Morris continue to excel for their clubs, with the former being more of a lineout presence and tackle machine while the latter does more work at the breakdown. At their best, they match each other well, and are a fair bit younger than Cracknell. Morgan Morse is an even younger option with a big future, but has played a lot less rugby for the Ospreys as of late following Morris’ return.

    If a third 7 is needed, Josh Macleod is a safe bet given his jackaling skills, though Tommy Reffell and Taine Basham are in strong form too and would deserve a recall at some point. Dan Thomas has also played some great rugby for Cardiff lately, but lacks the versatility of the above options. Ross Moriarty would be a more experienced option at 6 or 8, but has fallen off a little towards the end of the season.

    My Choices: Jac Morgan, Aaron Wainwright, Alex Mann, James Botham, Taine Plumtree, Ryan Woodman, Morgan Morris, Olly Cracknell

    Injury Cover: Josh Macleod, Alun Lawrence, Ross Moriarty

    SCRUM-HALF

    This is simple; Tomos Williams has picked up a shoulder injury in Gloucester’s win over Sale, but is expected to be fit and available for international duty. Kieran Hardy and Reuben Morgan-Williams remain solid deputies, and Che Hope will miss the international season with injury. Should Tomos’ condition not improve in time, Dane Blacker has played very well for the Scarlets in Gareth Davies’ absence, and seems the most likely to upset the pecking order.

    FLY-HALF

    Dan Edwards signed off a mixed Six Nations campaign with an exceptional performance against Italy, and looks primed to be the starting fly-half for this tour. His only real competition, Sam Costelow, has been injured and is expected to miss out, though will likely return for the summer. Frustratingly for Tandy, Jarrod Evans is also injured, disrupting the 10-12 axis on the replacements bench that Wales have relied on since Warren Gatland left. Therefore, some big changes will have to be made.

    Callum Sheedy is the clear next cab off the ranks in their absence. He’s one of Cardiff’s most important players, and his goal-kicking has improved considerably while his playmaking skills are as strong as ever. How much gametime he gets is down to Edwards’ form, but he’s a step above the competition in this position. Finally, while not primarily a fly-half, this is the perfect opportunity to cap Angus O’Brien. As we’ll cover later, fullback is a problem position for Wales, and his strong kicking game and leadership skills make him a leading candidate for the role, especially since Louis Rees-Zammit will miss the Barbarians game.

    My Choices: Dan Edwards, Callum Sheedy, Angus O’Brien

    Injury Cover: Ioan Lloyd

    CENTRES

    Joe Hawkins and Eddie James’ partnership was one of the biggest victories in selection in the Six Nations, and it would certainly be a surprise if Tandy dropped it all together. That said, there is a school of thought that James’ powerful carrying makes him a better 12 than 13, with a faster outside centre partnering him giving Wales a stronger attacking edge in the midfield.

    If the former tactic is preferred, Ben Thomas may keep his spot despite a disappointing past two campaigns. His form remains strong at Cardiff, though he can’t physically impact the game like Hawkins. Louie Hennessey is a much easier recall, as his form for Bath is consistently impressive despite his limited gametime, and he fits the mold of 23 people generally want to see outside of Eddie James.

    Otherwise, Max Llewellyn’s return has yielded strong results for Gloucester so far, and is another contender for the 13 jersey. Joe Roberts and Macs Page have also out in good shifts for the Scarlets in the meantime, while Owen Watkin’s defensive skills were on show when the Ospreys clinched the Welsh shield.

    My Choices: Joe Hawkins, Eddie James, Louie Hennessey, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas

    Injury Cover: Joe Roberts, Owen Watkin

    OUTSIDE BACKS

    Another of Wales’ deepest positions, though not without some concerns, as Ellis Mee and Mason Grady have sustained injuries and may not be available for selection. I’ll assume for the time being that they won’t be available. Josh Adams is likely to retain his spot given his Six Nations consistency and experience, though from there its anyone’s guess who will come in on the wings.

    Rio Dyer has been one of the form wingers in Wales this season, and having missed out on opportunities throughout the year, this seems like the right time to give him a second chance. Tom Rogers has been less consistent, but his international credentials are proven. Whether he plays on the wing or at fullback is a bigger question, as signing for the Ospreys in Jack Walsh’ absence suggests the latter is his future at club level. Despite his disappointing Six Nations, Gabriel Hamer-Webb has done a lot for Leicester in the meantime, becoming one of few players to score 5 tries in a single game against Newcastle. While still firmly their 3rd choice on the wing, he’s done enough to earn a recall.

    As for fullback, it’s tough to tell if Louis Rees-Zammit will continue to stay here. He’s certainly a devastating counterattacker and gets more touches on the ball, but likes the finer points to his game that more dedicated fullbacks like Blair Murray or Cameron Winnett possess. O’Brien also might challenge for this role, especially if Wales choose a kick-heavy strategy. Finally, Jacob Beetham has been in excellent form for Cardiff, has the versatility to cover most of the backline, and has all the basic fundamentals of an international player despite his limited caps. If a utility back is needed, Beetham is one of the leading candidates.

    For the final pick, Blair Murray and Cam Winnett are mostly evenly matched, but the former is more versatile and has been more consistent this season, while Winnett’s form has fluctuated a lot more.

    My Choices: Josh Adams, Rio Dyer, Tom Rogers, Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Louis Rees-Zammit, Jacob Beetham, Blair Murray

    Injury Cover: Keelan Giles, Cameron Winnett

  • Wales vs Italy Review – Six Nations 2026

    Wales vs Italy Review – Six Nations 2026

    Wales 31 – 17 Italy

    They’ve finally done it – the Six Nations losing streak has been broken as Wales have a new benchmark for their performances going forward. Compared to their spotty win against Japan last summer and their narrow victory against the same opponent in the autumn, this was a more dominant display as Wales had the edge over Italy for most of the game and of the starting XV, few made any real errors at all. After showing such signs of development in the games against Scotland and Ireland, Wales have proven that they have the quality to compete in the Six Nations, and they are that much closer to finding their strongest XV and climbing back into the top 10 in the world rankings.

    If you’d seen the previous two games, you’d have a pretty solid idea of who Wales’ best performers were. Overall, they matched Italy in most areas of the game; similar possession, territory, carries made, discipline. But on defence, they had little trouble repelling Italy’s attack as they made 88% of their tackles, notably more than Italy’s 81%. Menoncello and Brex had their work cut out for them trying to manage Wales’ carrying threats, but with a much less experienced centre partnership, Wales contained the centrefield defence a lot more than usual, and attacked well from all areas of the field as they beat a lot more defenders (27 vs 18).

    Next up will be the Nations Championship in July, and given how far Wales have come, they’ll fancy their chances against Fiji and Japan at home, and possibly Australia. Compared to the autumn, they’re vastly improved defence will be tested against the familiar opponents of Argentina, New Zealand, and South Africa, especially with their new defence coach on the way. It’ll be a similar step-by-step rate of improvements, but Wales are generally on the up after an overall successful Six Nations campaign.

    Player Ratings:

    1: Rhys Carré: 7

    Ended his try-scoring rate, but overall a strong showing from the big man. Celebrated a cleanly won turnover, though Wales’ scrum struggled later in the game.

    2: Dewi Lake: 8

    Some of his persistent lineout troubles came back in, but that was the only thing holding him back from a 9; Lake only played 44 minutes, yet was a strong contender for MotM as he topped the carrying charts and tackled relentlessly. A brilliant end after such an awkward start, Lake has firmly re-established himself as a world class hooker.

    3: Tomas Francis: 6

    Got through 37 minutes before being forced off. Francis didn’t really do much in that time beyond the scrum, though against Danilo Fischetti, that’s certainly an achievement; Wales’ setpiece had a lot more issues when he left.

    4: Dafydd Jenkins: 7

    Generically great workrate from Jenkins, though he made a few errors to hold him back. Missed 2, made 12, which isn’t a bad showing but not at his usual standard. Jenkins is great when Wales need to weather the storm, but Italy’s attack weren’t quite as competitive as past opponents, so he was needed less. Other teammates had bigger showings.

    5: Ben Carter: 8

    Did a great Adam Beard impression, in a complimentary way. Going for a maul inside their own 22 aside, Wales’ strong maul from the second Gatland era returned as Carter put in a great shift at both the setpiece and around the park. Not too many tackles, but some strong carries to help get Wales moving forward.

    6: Alex Mann: 6

    Like Jenkins, Wales were far enough ahead where Mann’s workrate was less noteworthy. Conceded some frustrating penalties, but stayed strong in the lineout.

    7: James Botham: 9

    Hard done by to not be considered for MotM; even with a slight possession majority, Botham made the most tackles with 15, 0 missed, and 3 dominant, plus a turnover. His try-saving intervention further demonstrated his tremendous workrate, even when Wales’ defence switched off a little towards the end. Jac Morgan will take back the jersey upon his return, but Botham will push for the 6 jersey or the bench spot; either way, he’s brilliantly recemented his place in the 23.

    8: Aaron Wainwright: 9

    Wales player of the tournament by some distance, Waino continued his form with a deserved MotM performance. Hasn’t been his usual try-scoring force so far, but ended that drought with 2 quick and easy scores from the 22. Even with Faletau likely to return, it’ll be very hard to see Wainwright anywhere besides the 8 jersey, as his carrying threat was too much for the Italians time after time.

    9: Tomos Williams: 8

    Much better, as his kicking relieved pressure from Wales constantly. His leadership doesn;t seem to be at Lake’s level, as Wales generally relaxed a lot when the latter left. But with Morgan still to return, that should take the pressure off him as his game control helped keep the Welsh attack going.

    10: Dan Edwards: 8

    More than made his case to start over Costelow. Edwards may not possess his rival’s defence and game control, but his sheer confidence to aim for drop goals under pressure or score tries himself makes him a unique attacking threat. Made up for his quieter showings earlier in the tournament, and his partnership with Williams looked a lot stronger.

    11: Josh Adams: 8

    Speaking of making up for quiet showings. Adams couldn’t quite get the best of Louis Lynagh in the air, but made up for it with one of his best carrying showings in years. Beat 6 defenders in 8 carries, and constantly asked questions of the Italian defence.

    12: Joe Hawkins: 7

    Defensively still has some work to do, as he made 6 and missed 2, but on attack has really evolved his carrying threat. Tandy will likely persist with the Hawins/James partnership going forward, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the Scarlets do the same.

    13: Eddie James: 7

    Quieter than usual, though on attack his showings were very positive. Also didn’t miss any tackles, unlike Hawkins, which is certainly impressive given the quality of his opposition. 

    14: Ellis Mee: 8

    Also hard done by not to be considered for MotM. Mee should now be Wales’ first choice winger if Rees-Zammit remains at fullback, as his pace and aerial ability can seriously push opposition defences. But it’s his quick-thinking that sets him apart, with his clearance kick to deny Italy a score in the opening half and his consistency with beating defenders that prove he is ready for international rugby.

    15: Louis Rees-Zammit: 7

    His best showing at fullback so far, though maybe needs to close out the season for Bristol before truly making it his best position. Struggles in defence, but his kicking tested Italy and works well with his pace, as he can easily chase his own kicks and force opponents to make fast decisions which may not always be the right ones.

    BENCH

    16: Ryan Elias: 7

    Strong in Lake’s absence, though less impactful overall. Should keep this jersey as his physicality is hard to match.

    17: Nicky Smith: 8

    The main scrum threat of this Welsh side, Smith comfortably held on in the setpiece and around the park as the team around him fell off. Probably won’t push Carré for a starting spot as both are different kinds of props, but looks comfortable in this role.

    18: Archie Griffin: 5

    Strong workrate in defence, but not his best. Carded for collapsing Italy’s maul and cost Wales at scrumtime. Assiratti should come back in for the summer, though Griffin has the advantage against the other tightheads for the third tighthead spot.

    19: Adam Beard: 5

    Beard, meanwhile, is under a lot more threat as his bench impact doesn’t actually seem to impact the game in a notable way, especially when Jenkins and Carter are playing so well. Teddy Williams, Freddie Thomas, and Rhys Davies just have much higher workrates and offer unique advantages that Beard does not, despite his experience. Needs a good showing for Montpellier in the meantime.

    20: Olly Cracknell: N/A

    Victim of Tandy’s timid bench usage. Could come under threat then Faletau and Plumtree return from injury.

    21: Kieran Hardy: N/A

    At least he hit the field this time. Actually made the highest number of tackles per minute, which is funny.

    22: Jarrod Evans: 6

    Given a score as his awkward kick to touch didn’t really take away pressure from the Italian attack. Not much else.

    23: Blair Murray: N/A

    Recurring theme here. Murray could do a lot of work in such a role when Tandy actually figures out what to do with his bench.

    Wales’ Best Performers of Six Nations 2026 – Tier List

    Elite – Aaron Wainwright, Rhys Carré

    Excellent – Dewi Lake, Alex Mann, Eddie James, Dafydd Jenkins, Ben Carter, Sam Costelow

    Great – Tomos Williams, Dan Edwards, Nicky Smith, Tomas Francis, Ellis Mee, Joe Hawkins, Louis Rees-Zammit

    Decent – Ryan Elias, Josh Adams, Olly Cracknell, Jarrod Evans, Harri Deaves, Josh Macleod

    Barely Showed up – Liam Belcher, Freddie Thomas, Kieran Hardy, Mason Grady, Louie Hennessey, Blair Murray

    Some Clear Work-ons – Taine Plumtree, Gabriel Hamer-Webb

    Poor – Adam Beard, Ben Thomas

  • Wales vs Ireland Review – Six Nations 2026

    Wales vs Ireland Review – Six Nations 2026

    Ireland 27 – 17 Wales

    Following Ireland’s 21-42 sweep against England, along with Wales’ historic poor performances in Dublin, this could’ve been a lot uglier than a 10 point deficit. A one score difference was well earned, however; Wales’ defence was far improved compared to previous weeks, and they made Ireland’s world class players fight for every score. An easy way to describe Walaes’ performance was annoying; for the opposition, thankfully. Where England struggled to handle Ireland’s varied attacking threats, Wales found a lot more answers, and forced the hosts to give it their all across the field.

    Ultimately though, the Irish had more opportunities to take advantage of; they got more points from Wales’ 22, held 57% of the possession, and did an equally effective job of countering Wales’ attack plan. Players like McCloskey and Baloucoune were quieter than in previous weeks, but their forward pack was more than enough to give them the edge in go-forward. A recurring pattern; Wales were the less clinical and well-drilled team, and therefore they simply got less out of their limited opportunities.

    Still an improvement over the Scotland performance overall, if only slightly. A lesser team would;ve collapsed to a lot more than 27 points conceded with how much Ireland threw at them. How much they can improve that showing against Italy is to be seen, but a win at home to break the losing streak is entirely on the table.

    Player Ratings:

    1: Rhys Carré – 9

    Ellis Genge-esque. Carré’s work with ball-in-hand was among the best on the field, as he kept pushing Ireland’s defence backwards and came close to scoring multiple times. But when he finally broke through, he proved why he;s a player who can;t be half-checked with a brilliant linebreak. A strong contender for the team of the tournament at this rate.

    2: Dewi Lake – 8

    Less noticeable than Carré, at least on attack; 4 dominant tackles is a hard number to ignore. Strong at the setpiece, Lake looks back to his best after a long slump in form, though Wales’ maul couldn’t quite get going to give him a scoring opportunity.

    3: Tomas Francis – 6

    Tom O’Toole is normally a tighthead prop and Wales’ pack was over 50 kg heavier than Ireland’s. Didn’t stop him from folding Francis in record time at the first scrum. Was a lot more stable for the rest of the game, and both side’s setpieces were equally matched for the most part.

    4: Dafydd Jenkins – 8

    About as good as last week; 27 tackles and a turnover speaks to his contributions around the park. A deliberate knock on caused issues at one point, but only came from his desire to involve himself in every effort made by his side.

    5: Ben Carter – 7

    Mostly solid; outread by Jack Crowley for the latter’s try, but with 19 tackles made, 1 missed is less concerning. Couldn’t match his teammates efforts otherwise before being replaced, but did well with what he was given.

    6: Alex Mann – 9

    32 tackles made, 2 dominant, a turnover and a try-saving snatch in Wales’ 22. Mann went above and beyond in every phase of play, including a near-try towards the end. He’s been a consistent performer since coming back into the Wales side after the Japan tour, but this was comfortably his best game yet.

    7: James Botham – 8

    Nice to see the Cardiff backrowers in their more comfortable positions; Botham didn’t win as many turnovers as he may have wanted, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. Tireless on defence, and almost scored out wide before claiming a score later on, Botham constantly frustrated Ireland’s attack and forced them to go around him rather than through.

    8: Aaron Wainwright – 7

    Having suffered an injury prior to the match, Waino’s influence was always going to be slightly more limited. 5 carries looks underwhelming, but with what he was able to contribute, he forced Ireland’s hand. A solid 16-1 defensive showing too, not far behind consistent tackle-machine Carter. Also, somehow he topped meters carried for Wales? In 44 minutes? What?

    9: Tomos Williams – 5

    Not just for the yellow card, although it certainly didn’t help Wales’ last 10 minutes being without a scrum-half. While he kept the attack flowing, Williams couldn’t really create much after Carré’s try, and his kicking wasn’t much help either. Got targeted a lot on defence and didn’t handle it well.

    10: Dan Edwards – 6

    Got targeted a lot on defence and didn;t handle it well. Saving a try with some level-headed playmaking gives him an extra point, though with Costelow’s performance last week, the drop-off was felt. A good player, and some of his kicks helped relieve pressure, but others went more astray.

    11: Josh Adams – 4

    Pretty quiet. When given the ball out wide, didn’t put Ireland under too much pressure and looked indecisive in parts. Missed a pass to Botham which kind of summed up his night.

    12: Joe Hawkins – 6

    Got targeted a lot on defence and… was ok? 15 tackles made, but tied with Tomos for most missed with 4. Still, his kicking game was one of the more consistent on his team, and 10 carries is actually one of the higher numbers among Wales’ ranks. Context is relevant; McCloskey has been one of the tournament’s best players, and Hawkins more than held his own.

    13: Eddie James – 7

    Also quieter than usual, but really frustrated Ireland out wide. Similar workrate to Hawkins with 10 carries and 15 tackles, but missed none. Ireland’s midfield defence is very strong, though, so James could only do so much to dent it.

    14: Ellis Mee – 6

    Fine? Stockdale comfortably had the edge under the high ball, but Mee made a good account of himself when pressured on defence. Didn’t see too much ball, though, as the play was more focused on Adams’ side.

    15: Louis Rees-Zammit – 6

    Doesn’t feel like a world-class player at the moment. Deserves credit for his 50:22 and some solid carries, along with a reasonable defensive effort at times, but was quiet for most of the second half.

    BENCH

    16: Ryan Elias – 7

    Played his part in Wales’ consistent setpiece, though their maul got stopped pretty quickly. Good carries.

    17: Nicky Smith – 8

    Crushed Furlong in the scrum, but didn’t have the same defensive impact as last week.

    18: Archie Griffin – 7

    Much better scrum performance than last week, which isn’t saying much, but looked a lot closer to his usual form overall.

    19: Adam Beard – N/A

    Being given a second chance to earn a starting spot, Beard made 3 carries and 1 tackle in 24 minutes. Meh.

    20: Olly Cracknell – 7

    Isn’t Wainwright, but put in a similar effort with an insane 15 carries in 36 minutes. That’s as many as MotM Conan made in the entire game. Less notable on defence compared to Botham and Mann, but contributed well overall.

    21: Kieran Hardy – N/A

    Technically, Tomos didn’t play 80 minutes thanks to the yellow card, so not much reason to replace him.

    22: Jarrod Evans – N/A

    Slightly more surprising unused replacement, though Hawkins did well. No last minute kicks this time.

    23: Louie Hennessey – 6

    Got his first cap, and seemed to make more impact than Mee somehow. Threw himself into everything available, though to little result. 

    My Team vs Italy

    1. Rhys Carré
    2. Dewi Lake
    3. Tomas Francis
    4. Dafydd Jenkins
    5. Ben Carter
    6. Alex Mann
    7. James Botham
    8. Aaron Wainwright
    9. Tomos Williams
    10. Sam Costelow
    11. Mason Grady
    12. Joe Hawkins
    13. Eddie James
    14. Tom Rogers
    15. Louis Rees-Zammit

    BENCH

    1. Ryan Elias
    2. Nicky Smith
    3. Kieron Assiratti
    4. Freddie Thomas
    5. Josh Macleod
    6. Kieran Hardy
    7. Jarrod Evans
    8. Blair Murray

    Once again, not many changes. Assiratti should be back to full fitness by now, and while Griffin played well, Assiratti’s performances in the Autumn deserve to be built upon. Management is hopeful that Costelow will be fit for the Italy game, in which case he comes back too. As for the bench, Freddie Thomas has been relatively underutilised so far this campaign, and should take the chance to prove what he brings to the squad. Josh Macleod has both the versatility and experience to act as a useful bench replacement; Cracknell and Woodman are larger and stronger, but against Italy, breakdown control will be needed to compete with their dual opensides and slow down their ball. If Wainwright isn’t fit, however, Cracknell will need to come in. 

    The back three is more interesting, as none of them have really clicked so far this tournament. Josh Adams has 2 tries, but these have mostly come from finishing phase plays rather than dominant gameplay. Louis Rees-Zammit is statistically impressive, but his performances so far have left a lot to be desired. He keeps his space though, as the other fullback options are riskier. Meanwhile, Tom Rogers hasn’t had a minute of rugby all campaign, and Mason Grady looked strong off the bench at the start, so they take Josh Adams and Ellis Mee’s places in the XV. Blair Murray adds more pace and should up the tempo coming off the bench.

    Italy have had an excellent campaign so far, but with Wales’ own improvements, a larger pack, and the homefield advantage, a victory is certainly achievable.