S4C’s Jonathan show host and top pundit on the aftermath of Wales’ 48-7 defeat to England and the game against France
12:12, 10 Feb 2026Updated 15:00, 10 Feb 2026
Jiffy says Wales must pick the biggest team they can(Image: John Myers)
If Wales are to stand any chance against France they need to win their own set-piece and fix their discipline. The problem we had at Twickenham is the amount of penalties that we gave away was just ridiculous. It was just needless.
It’s one thing giving penalties away when you are tired later on in the game and under huge pressure which causes you to lose your concentration but you can’t lose your concentration in the first 20 minutes of a Test match.
We are not good enough to beat England even if we win all our lineouts, scrums and don’t give those penalties away.
But when you make those kinds of errors it becomes almost impossible to win any Test match.
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When I saw the interview with Dewi Lake at the end of the game it felt like he was carrying the world on his shoulders and I feel for him. It looked like he’d had enough.
Is it worth Dewi handing the captaincy over to someone else? Maybe one of the more experienced players like Adam Beard can take it on or another youngster like Dafydd Jenkins who is captain of Exeter Chiefs.
I definitely wouldn’t drop him because he is a class player and Wales need him but he could do without the pressure of the captaincy at the moment. He’ll still be a leader in the camp.
Jonathan is on S4C at 9pm, Thursday(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
Let’s be honest, the pack had a hiding on Saturday and France will be just as powerful as England so changes are needed.
I’d select the biggest team possible.
I don’t know what Ross Moriarty has done wrong but he needs to be in this squad just for his aggression, tenacity and ball carrying ability.
I’d bring Ross into the squad to start him at six, put Cracknell at No 8 and Aaron Wainwright on the openside. I know Wainwright isn’t a specialist openside but we need to get over the gainline.
Ross Moriarty(Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)
Those three can carry the ball which is something that has been lacking of late.
I would consider starting Tomas Francis against France and keep Nicky Smith on the loosehead who is playing well at Leicester.
It is trickier to select the backs. Ben Thomas has come in for a lot of stick since Saturday but it is very difficult to play on the back foot.
He is the most creative player Wales have got but it is almost impossible when you are behind a pack that is being annihilated. Perhaps they do need a bit more physicality in midfield.
Against England the message should have been for Eddie James to run straight and hard down George Ford’s channel to take him out of the game.
If James retains his place against France his job has to be to get his side over the gainline.
Perhaps it would be better to move James to inside centre and select Owen Watkin at 13 for his size and defence.
I’d keep Louis Rees-Zammit at full-back. Yes, there were a few difficult moments under the high-ball at Twickenham because he had been targeted by Ford.
But he grew into the game and was easily Wales’ most dangerous player with ball in hand.
Against the French we just need to stay in the game.
Our discipline needs to be much better as does our set-piece while we cannot afford to play too much rugby in the French half or they will punish us.
We have to find a pattern of play that suits us, find players who can run over the gainline and try to get some kind of identity.
They need to isolate one-on-ones with Rees-Zammit.
Sam Warburton said recently he felt they could win two games this year after being in camp.
But you couldn’t make that prediction off the back of the autumn campaign and after the first game of the Six Nations.
This is where we are at.
The one silver lining is they can’t miss as many lineouts or give as many penalties away in the first 20 minutes again. Hopefully they will be a lot better in that aspect on Saturday.
I can’t see Wales winning on Sunday. The best we can hope for is a much improved performance we can use as a springboard into the Scotland match.
I think it is important to get behind the boys at home because the last thing we need is to get drowned out by the French.
Jonathan will be broadcast at 9pm on Thursday on S4C and throughout the Six Nations. Join Jiffy, Nigel Owens and Sarra Elgan as they welcome Scott Quinnell and Sioned Dafydd to the studio. Lloyd Lewis will be out and about visiting the rugby clubs.