Wales’ new head coach starts in his role next month ahead of a tough autumn campaign
17:47, 12 Aug 2025Updated 17:48, 12 Aug 2025
Louis Rees-Zammit and Mason Grady could be big players for Tandy, having not been available for some time(Image: © Huw Evans Picture Agency)
What will Steve Tandy’s Wales look like? That was a question posed to the new Welsh coach last week. From a man who has yet to confirm his coaching staff, he offered up a fair bit of detail over what he wanted his Wales to look like.
“I think there’s lots of details in there and lots of conversations to have in terms of getting coaches and having alignment,” said the former Scotland defence coach last Thursday. “But obviously from a defensive background, with the teams I’ve been, you want something robust and resilient.
“That creation of transition, we want to be really tough in that aspect of the game. Attacking then, I’ve learned from some amazing attack-minded coaches and how they see their vision.
“But a lot of it comes back to that I want our team to have ambition. I want them to know that when they step out there, if there’s something to play to, they go and play to it. A lot of things will underpin that.
“There’ll be structures. But I want our boys to understand how good they can be.”
After 18 defeats in 19 Test matches, that’s quite the task. But, in fairness to Tandy, he’s certainly approaching the job as an exciting opportunity, rather than the life sentence it became towards the end of Warren Gatland’s second spell.
There is still a fair bit of water to pass under the bridge before we see what Tandy’s Wales will look like. Coaches to hire, preferred options to state, consultations to survive.
It’s never straight-forward in Welsh rugby. The suggestion from the Welsh Rugby Union, prior to Tandy’s official appointment, is that some sense of continuity from the coaches who toured Japan would be ideal. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
The likes of Matt Sherratt, T. Rhys Thomas and Adam Jones, therefore, could have roles under Tandy. Danny Wilson, having reported back to Harlequins on the Monday following Wales’ win in Kobe, could be harder to prise away from the Gallagher Prem side.
There’s no timescale for Tandy’s coaching staff, though. There has even been a suggestion from Dave Reddin that interim assistants could be used for the autumn campaign.
But, if it is to be some of the coaches that toured Japan, that at least gives us a greater idea of what Tandy’s Wales might look like. In the end, there probably wasn’t enough time for Wales to effectively get across the messaging of a host of new coaches in almost every area of the game, so things were stripped back – particularly in attack.
However, there were rough blueprints to follow. Some of the attack in the second Test hinted at the bravery that Sherratt, were he to be the attack coach moving forward, would want to accompany ball movement.
Tandy’s quotes last week certainly back that up. In terms of the playing personnel, there are some obvious players set to come back in which could complement that.
It wasn’t a vintage year for Wales with the Lions, but Tomos Williams and Jac Morgan immediately strengthen any starting side Tandy puts out.
So too, in theory, will Louis Rees-Zammit wherever he ends up. Having tried his hand at the NFL, he’ll offer the new Wales coach an immediate boost.
There are others who missed the summer tour who will add to Tandy’s first squad. Adam Beard didn’t tour Japan to focus on his move to France, although Wales did try and twist his arm – showing just how important he is.
It’s a similar story for Dafydd Jenkins, with lock the most obvious position from the summer when it comes to calling upon the cavalry. There’s also Will Rowlands knocking around in the second-row stocks, while James Fender could force his way in to the mix too.
Teddy Williams did a fine job, but Wales were a little light in that area over the summer. Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
In terms of the front-row, Sherratt was largely picking from full-strength – but Tandy shouldn’t be too disheartened by a front-row of Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake and Archie Griffin.
The back-row, as ever in Wales, is stocked well. Morgan, having shone Down Under, waltzes back into the side, but Josh Macleod impressed after being backed to start ahead of Tommy Reffell in both Japan Tests this summer.
Alex Mann was another who started both, with Aaron Wainwright another option on the blindside – although he once again showed that No. 8 is his best position in Kobe. However, the week prior, Taulupe Faletau continued to roll back the years before the heat got the better of him in Kitakyushu.
There’s also Taine Plumtree to consider, given his match-winning cameo in Kobe, while someone like James Botham didn’t even travel. You can’t disregard Ross Moriarty either, having fallen out of favour under Gatland but now back in Wales with the Ospreys.
He’ll push his case at the Brewery Field this year alongside Morgan Morris and Morgan Morse. Morse, in particular, was desperately close to going on the tour of Japan in the summer. The player was understood to have been tipped off that he was set to go, before ultimately not touring as Wales took just 33 players.
Morse is considered one of the finest talents in Welsh rugby(Image: Gruffydd Thomas/Huw Evans Agency)
Despite that disappointment, he’ll likely be in the mix by the autumn.
In the backline, scrum-half Williams’ brief salvo with the Lions before injury struck only served to underline that he is a world class talent, even if Wales haven’t always been able to provide him a suitable platform to shine.
Beyond him, Kieran Hardy had a mixed summer, while Rhodri Williams was left on the bench in Kitakyushu. Perhaps Ospreys half-back Reuben Morgan-Williams, having had to wait for his first cap, could quickly establish himself in Tandy’s squad moving forward.
In terms of fly-half, Dan Edwards ended the summer in possession of the 10 jersey and that should stay the case heading into November. The 22-year-old was brilliant in Kobe, picking himself back up from setbacks to come through at a crucial moment.
In the past year, Sam Costelow, Gareth Anscombe and Ioan Lloyd have all worn the jersey. Don’t rule out Jarrod Evans – brought back for the Six Nations – continuing his Test comeback, especially if Sherratt is part of the coaching team.
Midfield is an interesting one, with Ben Thomas having been a playmaking option at 12 in recent Tests. But Eddie James, overlooked for the summer, offers a powerful alternative there.
There’s also the likes of Johnny Williams, Joe Roberts and Max Llewellyn to factor in, while the return of Mason Grady – if Wales can find the best position for him – could be big this season. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.
Macs Page, still uncapped after the summer, is an exciting prospect that fits Tandy’s desire to bring some attacking excitement.
So too, obviously, does Rees-Zammit. The wing returns to arguably a more stocked back-three cupboard.
Josh Adams enjoyed his best Test for Wales in years in Kobe, while Tom Rogers has quietly been showing himself to be Test level on the wing for Wales.
Keelan Giles looked the part off the bench after having to wait years for his Wales bow, while Ellis Mee showed up well in the Six Nations.
There’s also Josh Hathaway and Rio Dyer to factor in, while you’ve got Blair Murray and Cameron Winnett as full-back options.
There isn’t, in truth, a great deal for Tandy to bring in to change this Wales team. Continuity from the summer might not be a bad thing, with those within the WRU hierarchy still pointing to the lack of cohesion that external consultants have pointed to in previous reviews.
Greater cohesion and alignment, be that Tandy having boots on the grounds along the M4 more regularly, might be the way to solve that.
But, just as there was in the summer in Japan, there’ll be a sense behind it all that there are no quick fixes here.