Steve Tandy has some strong options in the back three
Louis Rees-Zammit played 15 for Bristol at the weekend (Image: Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Strength in depth is a commodity that has been in short supply as far as Wales go but if there is one position where Steve Tandy does have options it is the back-three.
Over the festive period a handful of players have hit form at the right time but finding the right balance is the key. However, there are two big questions in need of answering; where to play Mason Grady and whether Louis Rees-Zammit should be employed at full-back instead of the wing.
In the lead up to the 2024 Six Nations Warren Gatland wanted to start Rees-Zammit at full-back for the opener against Scotland but those plans were soon thrown in the bin after he opted to leave the sport to try his hand at American football.
But a couple of years later Rees-Zammit is tearing up the Gallagher Prem in the number 15 jersey.
“Louis has the ability to be a world-class full-back,” said Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam in the wake of his side’s 36-27 victory over Newcastle Red Bulls on Saturday.
“I know a lot of people see him as a wing but it was always my intention to 100 per cent play him as a full-back. It suits our style completely.”
Rees-Zammit has started the last two Bristol games at full-back in the victories over Harlequins and Newcastle, respectively.
The 24-year-old gets his hands on the ball far more frequently at 15 and Bristol have given the Welshman a licence to roam around the field.
Rees-Zammit has hit some wicked angles in attack with his pace, power and footwork causing havoc.
The former Gloucester wing scored a stunning individual try in the comfortable victory over Harlequins and a further two against Newcastle.
We all know he is one of the deadliest players in world rugby, let alone British rugby, when put in space but he was also strong under the high ball which has not been his biggest strength in the past.
It has to be noted neither Harlequins or Newcastle are the strongest of teams and there will be far sterner tests to come in the Gallagher Prem, let alone in the international arena.
Blair Murray wore the number 15 jersey throughout Wales’ autumn campaign.
Murray is an outstanding broken field runner who can create try-scoring opportunities out of nothing and is an excellent finisher but his lack of height was exposed under the high ball.
With escort runners no longer in the game, gone are the days where coaches could cover up defensive or aerial weaknesses in the back three – there are no longer any hiding places.
Despite Murray’s attacking prowess Wales cannot afford to be exploited in this area of the game in the Six Nations opener against England at the Allianz Stadium.
Tom Rogers is strong under the high ball but Rees-Zammit is arguably the better option at full-back and Murray may be better suited to the wing or as an impact player when the game has broken up.
But what to do with Grady is arguably the biggest question.
Grady is a powerhouse who has the size, explosive power and blistering pace to develop into a top-end international-class player.
There have been signs that he could reach the heights when in a Wales jersey but there remain areas of his game which are in need of improvement.
He is a work in progress but he offers that physical edge and ability to make post-contact metres which has been missing in this Wales back-line.
In Cardiff’s narrow victory over the Dragons on Boxing Day Grady impressed.
The 23-year-old made more linebreaks than any other player on the pitch (three) and his 134 metres were more than double what any other player achieved.
He can play but wing is his best position.
Wales attack coach Matt Sherratt needs to find a way of getting Grady into the game and allowing him to get as many touches as possible.
If Wales can put him into space on the front foot then they have a serious weapon on their hands.
Of course, there are other options on the wing in Grady’s Cardiff team-mate Josh Adams, while Rio Dyer has been outstanding over the past few weeks for the Dragons.
Dyer is in his best form since 2023 and is also a serious contender to start against England, while Scarlets wing Rogers is also in the mix.
Ellis Mee has also hit form and actually got the better of Rees-Zammit when the Scarlets narrowly lost to Bristol in the Investec Champions Cup, while he was the west Walians’ best performer against the Ospreys on Boxing Day.
But Rogers was one of Wales’ better players in the autumn and deserves to start on the wing. A back-three of Rees-Zammit at full-back with Grady and Rogers on the wing is not a bad trio at all.
But it is only an exciting prospect if Wales’ forwards front up and are able to gain parity.