The backrow selection is the key to Wales’ new style of play
Wales head coach Steve Tandy (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
When Taulupe Faletau made his first appearance of the season in Cardiff’s derby victory over the Dragons less than a fortnight ago it would undoubtedly have come as a big boost to new Wales head coach Steve Tandy.
Yes, at 34 Faletau is approaching the end of his career, but the experienced No 8 remains a high-class player who would have made a positive difference to Wales’ performances this autumn. It is highly likely Tandy would have selected a backrow consisting of Aaron Wainwright at blindside flanker, Jac Morgan at openside and Faletau at No 8 for the autumn opener against a gigantic Argentina pack in Cardiff.
That is the backrow which took Australia to the cleaners as Wales recorded a thumping 40-6 victory at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
To lose Faletau is a blow and Tandy will have to reshuffle his backrow to take on the Pumas.
According to former Wales wing Alex Cuthbert, who is now a respected pundit, the loss of Faletau could force a tactical change. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
In-form Leicester Tigers backrower Olly Cracknell is the man to replace Faletau.
“He’s been going well at Leicester. Big, massive, physical bloke as well. He will bring that aggressiveness that I think we probably need in that back-row,” Cuthbert told Sportin Wales.
“But to lose Toby is a big, big loss. His experience, his consistency and he is probably one of Wales’ greatest-ever players, in my opinion.
“They are going to miss him massively. Hopefully it’s not too serious.
“But Olly will bring some physicality. It’s going to change the dynamics of how we are looking to play now.
“The likes of Alex Mann come into the picture at No.6, with (Aaron) Wainwright definitely moving to No.8 and then Jac Morgan (at No.7).”
Over the past decade Wales’ big strength in the backrow has been the number of outstanding opensides produced.
During the first Warren Gatland era, Wales were consistently one of the better teams in world rugby at the breakdown, specifically slowing down opposition ball while also winning turnovers.
Sam Warburton was an expert in this area, while Justin Tipuric, Ellis Jenkins, Morgan and Tommy Reffell also excelled at the breakdown.
Over the past few years Wales has often gone down the dual openside route to compensate for a lack of explosive ball carriers with Morgan and Reffell pitted together on a number of occasions.
But looking at Tandy’s squad it is evident this is an area he wants to address with the likes of Saracens prop Rhys Carre and Cracknell included, while there is only one out-and-out seven selected. Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
Tandy could select a backrow full of powerful carriers capable of carrying into traffic yet still making significant post-contact metres.
A backrow of Wainwright, Morgan and Cracknell has some serious ball-carrying clout.
Cracknell is one of the better carriers in the Gallagher Prem and has been outstanding for Leicester Tigers in recent seasons.
World-class Australian coach Michael Cheika, who led Leicester to the Prem final last season before losing out on the title to Bath, was a huge fan of Cracknell.
“I’ve really enjoyed coaching him,” said Cheika in January.
“He’s an intelligent guy and thinks about the game well. He’s a bloody good player, carrying well for us and being physical.
“He’s stoic and quiet but he’s becoming invaluable.
“He’s probably one of the best back-rowers in England right now. He might not have the flash and the glitter but he’s doing the job, for sure.
“I don’t think he’s got the ‘potential’ [for Test rugby] – he’s there.
“If they played him at that level then he would definitely perform, because he’s got the mentality and the temperament.”
Cracknell may not have been included in the original squad but he is a serious contender to start against Argentina due to his physicality and carrying ability.
Wales will face some of the biggest packs in world rugby next month and Argentina will be a significant challenge, with the likes of Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera, Juan Martin Gonzalez and Jacquin Oviedo some of the biggest and most physical backrowers on the international circuit.
In yesterday’s press conference Tandy was asked whether he had made a conscious decision to add more carriers to the pack. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.
The new Wales boss said he was confident they had the forward firepower to compete but they wanted to impose their own game on the opposition.
Morgan is arguably the only nailed-on starter, but who plays six could determine how Wales play.
Tandy has the option of the industrious Alex Mann at six who is an extremely talented footballer but isn’t as effective in the tight carries as a Wainwright or a Cracknell.
There is also the option of Taine Plumtree who is a tremendous athlete and an excellent lineout forward.
He could also look to blood 20-year-old Morgan Morse who is arguably the brightest prospect in Welsh rugby.
Morse can play across the backrow but is an extremely dynamic and explosive carrier who is as comfortable in the wide channels as he is in the tight exchanges.
The wildcard selection could be to employ Freddie Thomas. Thomas has played the majority of his rugby for Wales at lock but has been playing blindside flanker for Gloucester in the Gallagher Prem.
Argentina will select an enormous backrow and tend to go with a big bruiser on the blindside like Matera or Kremer.
At 6ft 5in Thomas is not a small man and is an excellent lineout forward who is probably better suited to the backrow than lock.
This could potentially work well for Wales.
If they want to select a hybrid on the blindside to add some size, Ospreys lock Rhys Davies and Dafydd Jenkins are also options but perhaps they don’t have as much athleticism as Thomas.
Wales have not got the size or power to win an arm wrestle against the likes of the Pumas or the Springboks but they still need to be able to gain parity up front and win the collisions.
The presence of Matt Sherratt in Tandy’s backroom team will likely see Wales try to play at pace.
But Tandy has forged a reputation as a hard-nosed coach who will want to give Wales a stronger backbone by solidifying the pack and the defence.
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