Steve Tandy will select his Wales squad for the Six Nations over the next couple of weeks
Ross Moriarty makes our Wales Six Nations squad(Image: World Rugby)
The Six Nations is already upon us and Steve Tandy will name his squad for the Six Nations over the next couple of weeks.
Wales struggled during the autumn, winning just one out of four Test matches which culminated in a 73-0 hiding at the hands of South Africa. As a result, not many people are giving Tandy’s side much of a hope of avoiding a third straight Six Nations wooden spoon.
Tandy would have forensically analysed all the Welsh derbies over the Christmas period as well as a number of Gallagher Prem fixtures.
While Wales’ options are limited, there are some key changes he should consider. Here is the Wales squad I would select for the Six Nations.
Front-row
When it comes to the loosehead, both Rhys Carré and Nicky Smith are nailed on selections. That’s a nice balance with Carré’s carrying ability and Smith’s destructive scrummaging.
The experience of Gareth Thomas gets him into the squad as third choice but he is struggling for fitness and isn’t expected back until the end of the month.
If he is ruled out then Danny Southworth, Garyn Phillips and Kemsley Mathias would be contenders for a squad place.
Keiron Assiratti was one of Wales’ better players during the autumn and is currently first choice tighthead, while Archie Griffin is also a nailed on selection.
Dragons prop Chris Coleman was included in the autumn but is currently injured and experienced Scarlets tighthead Henry Thomas would be the sensible choice.
At hooker it would be a surprise if Dewi Lake was not named as captain.
He has his critics but Ryan Elias deserves a recall because he has been playing well for the Scarlets. but more importantly he is a big man and a powerful carrier. Wales lack size and power which needs to be corrected during the Six Nations.
Ryan Elias during Wales training(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
Liam Belcher is likely to get selected at hooker but again I’d go for size in Cardiff hooker Evan Lloyd.
Dragons hooker Oli Burrows is another who should be considered.
The 24-year-old is rough around the edges but he does have the potential to be a Test player. Lloyd is a dynamic carrier, strong at the breakdown and has some x-factor.
All three hookers aren’t renowned for their accuracy at the lineout but Wales need more power and there has to be an onus on them to get it right.
Front-row: Rhys Carré, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Keiron Assiratti, Archie Griffin, Henry Thomas, Dewi Lake (captain), Ryan Elias, Evan Lloyd.
Second-row
This will raise more than a few eyebrows but if he is fit I’d bring Jake Ball back into the squad.
Yes, at 34 he is at the tail end of his career, and while Tandy has an eye on next year’s Rugby World Cup Ball still has something to offer.
Some would call it a backwards step but Wales’ pack got bullied at times during the autumn and they need to add some more grunt. Even if he does not start, Ball would add some experience to the squad which is another commodity Wales have been short of.
Scarlets second-row Jake Ball(Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)
Dafydd Jenkins has been outstanding for Exeter Chiefs of late and is one of the first names on the team sheet, while Adam Beard is also a nailed on selection.
Gloucester’s Freddie Thomas and Ospreys lock Rhys Davies make up our second-row stocks but Ben Carter and James Fender are unlucky to miss out.
Second-rows: Dafydd Jenkins, Adam Beard, Freddie Thomas, Rhys Davies, Jake Ball.
Backrow
Tandy cannot afford to leave any stone unturned in the battle to secure the services of England U20s backrower Kane James.
The 20-year-old has the potential to develop into a serious international player but he is also someone for the here and now. James has been outstanding as an impact player off the bench for Exeter Chiefs of late and is somebody Wales really need to tie down, given his dual-qualification.
Wales got exposed at the breakdown during the autumn and with Jac Morgan injured it would make sense to recall Tommy Reffell who is a specialist in this area.
Ross Moriarty in action for the Ospreys(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
For the same reason as Ball, I have included Ospreys backrower Ross Moriarty for his sheer physicality and experience.
Against the bigger packs like England and France you need players who can win collisions. Yes, Moriarty and Ball may not be as athletic as they once were but they can still offer something at this level.
Ryan Woodman was close but for now I have gone with the experience of Moriarty and rewarded Olly Cracknell for his performances in the autumn.
Back-row: Tommy Reffell, Alex Mann, Taulupe Faletau, Aaron Wainwright, Morgan Morse, Ross Moriarty, Kane James, Olly Cracknell
Scrum-half
Tomos Williams is one of the first names on the team sheet so his selection goes without saying. Kieran Hardy was outstanding for the Ospreys in their victory over Cardiff on New Year’s Day and is a safe pair of hands at this level.
But Dragons scrum-half Che Hope has really impressed in recent times. There have been concerns as to who replaces Williams in the long-run and Hope could well be that man.
Che Hope in action for the Dragons(Image: Gareth Everett/Huw Evans Agency)
The 22-year-old has an x-factor and is a serious attacking threat who has big moments in games while the fundamental areas of his game are also strong.
He should be included in the Six Nations squad.
Scrum-halves: Tomos Williams, Kieran Hardy, Che Hope
Outside-half
Dan Edwards was Wales’ first choice in the autumn and is highly likely to retain the number 10 shirt for the Six Nations opener against England.
The Ospreys playmaker was excellent throughout the Christmas period and while he does need to improve defensively, his game management, kicking game and his problem solving on the field are a big positive.
If he hadn’t picked up an Achilles injury Sam Costelow, who has been excellent of late, would have made the squad but it seems unlikely he will be back in time.
Jarrod Evans and Callum Sheedy retain their places in the squad.
Outside-halves: Dan Edwards, Callum Sheedy and Jarrod Evans.
Centres
Wales have struggled to find the right balance in midfield since the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Max Llewellyn is currently out injured but Tandy has been boosted by the return to fitness of Owen Watkin. The experienced centre was outstanding for the Ospreys against the Scarlets on Boxing Day and is the best defensive centre in Wales.
Scarlets man Eddie James is a very powerful carrier who carries well and can make significant post-contact metres, while his passing game is also a strong point of his game.
Louie Hennessey was included in the autumn squad but did not get onto the field.
However, the 21-year-old is a player with serious x-factor and made a positive impact for Bath as a replacement with a cracking outside break and offload to set up a try in their victory over Exeter Chiefs.
Ben Thomas came in for huge criticism during the autumn and lost his place in the team but is a very useful player to have in the squad, as is Joe Hawkins.
Centres: Owen Watkin, Ben Thomas, Joe Hawkins, Eddie James, Louie Hennessey.
Back-three
Wales struggled under the high ball in the autumn and this is an area Tandy must fix as a priority.
Blair Murray is an excellent attacking player and should remain part of the squad but Wales need to find a different answer at full-back. Louis Rees-Zammit has been playing well in the number 15 shirt for Bristol Bears and is an option to start there against England.
Mason Grady has returned to fitness and offers something different to any other back in Wales. The Cardiff man is an extremely destructive runner but is better suited to the wing at Test level.
This is a big call but we have decided to select Rio Dyer ahead of Josh Adams.
Wales head coach Steve Tandy speaks with Josh Adams (Image: David Davies/PA Wire.)
The Cardiff wing has been an outstanding player for Wales over many years but has been off the pace at Test level in recent times.
Dyer has finally regained the form which propelled him into the Wales squad back in 2022 and was outstanding in the victory over Connacht.
Ellis Mee also sneaks into the squad with his aerial game a big point of difference while he can cover both wing and full-back.
Wing: Louis Rees-Zammit, Tom Rogers, Ellis Mee, Blair Murray, Mason Grady, Rio Dyer.