Steve Tandy is set to keep faith with the majority of his starting line-up as he goes in search of a win over Japan
Louis Rees-Zammit is set to start for Wales(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
Louis Rees-Zammit is in line to make his first Wales start since October 2023 as Steve Tandy is set to keep faith with the majority of the starting XV that were beaten by Argentina last Sunday.
Saturday’s clash with Japan is a crucial one, with Wales ranked 12th in the world and the Brave Blossoms just behind them in 13th. Later this year, the draw for the 2027 World Cup in Australia will take place – with the 12th ranking being the final spot in the Band 2 seeding, meaning staying ahead of Japan could be vital in terms of getting an easier draw Down Under in two years’ time. You can read a full explanation of that situation here.
With that in mind, Tandy is set to make just two personnel changes to the side that were beaten 52-28 by Los Pumas in Cardiff last weekend, as well as one positional switch.
With captain Jac Morgan ruled out of the autumn with a dislocated shoulder, Cardiff back-row Alex Mann is in line to move across from blindside to wear the seven jersey.
The vast majority of the 23-year-old’s rugby has come in the six jersey – with just three starts for Cardiff so far on the openside.
He did also start there for Wales U20s on a few occasions back in 2021.
Alex Mann(Image: PA Wire)
Aaron Wainwright seems poised to overcome the cramp that forced him off early on Sunday, with Leicester flanker Olly Cracknell – who made his Test debut last weekend – joining them in the back-row for his first start at international level.
Otherwise, it’s an unchanged pack named by Tandy, with much of the backline remaining untouched too.
The only change, unsurprisingly, sees Rees-Zammit back in the starting team following his cameo off the bench last weekend.
Tom Rogers makes way for the Bristol Bears wing, who returned from his spell in the NFL earlier this year.
Rees-Zammit’s last start for Wales came in the 2023 World Cup quarter-final against Argentina in Marseille – with Wales having played 18 Test matches without him between then and his return to the jersey last weekend, winning just one.
Taine Plumtree and Nick Tompkins are leading candidates to come onto the bench.
Likely Wales team: Blair Murray; Louis Rees-Zammit, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams; Dan Edwards, Tomos Williams; Rhys Carre, Dewi Lake, Keiron Assiratti, Dafydd Jenkins, Adam Beard, Olly Cracknell, Alex Mann, Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: Liam Belcher, Nicky Smith, Archie Griffin, Freddie Thomas, Taine Plumtree, Kieran Hardy, Jarrod Evans, Nick Tompkins
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