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Wales head coach Steve Tandy (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)<\/p>\nThere’s plenty of headaches for the new Wales coach, but back-three isn’t one of themWales head coach Steve Tandy (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)<\/p>\n
Given the state of Welsh rugby right now, it would be remiss to claim there aren’t more than a few headaches for new Wales coach Steve Tandy.<\/p>\n
Sure, the 18-Test losing run is over and he’s got two coaches in ahead of the start of the autumn internationals in a month’s time, but by the time he gets his squad together at Wales’ Vale of Glamorgan HQ, his bosses may have announced that two clubs could soon cease to be.<\/p>\n
As the Beach Boys almost sang, God only knows what awaits for Welsh rugby when that bombshell drops.<\/p>\n
Whether it’s four, three, two or just one happy family playing out of a national campus in Pontypandy or somewhere, it’s just one choppy body of water that Tandy has to navigate.<\/p>\n
The one area that Tandy should feel pretty relaxed about is the back-three, given the relative riches Welsh rugby has there right now.<\/p>\n
When Louis Rees-Zammit left for the NFL 18 months ago, depth in that particular part of the team wasn’t overly deep.<\/p>\n
But, with his return to the sport almost certainly likely to result in an immediate reinstatement to the Welsh starting side, the 24-year-old heads back with a bit more competition this time around. Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Josh Adams, who started on the opposite flank in Rees-Zammit’s last match for Wales against Argentina in October 2023, was back to his best in the summer after trouble with injuries.<\/p>\n In Kobe in particular, the Cardiff<\/a> wing caused Japan all sorts of problems with his aerial ability and running lines, crossing for his first Test try in nearly two years. A confident Adams remains an asset for Wales.<\/p>\n On the other wing in Japan, Tom Rogers has grown at Test level in the past year. Having put the desire to play full-back behind him and focused on just enjoying his rugby, the Scarlets<\/a> back has become a regular for Wales in the past season.<\/p>\n Rogers may well be the wing that makes way for Rees-Zammit’s return, but given how strong he is in the air, he’ll continue to be in the mix moving forward.<\/p>\n Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the back-three in the autumn is combining Rees-Zammit with breakout star Blair Murray.<\/p>\n The former Canterbury back has shone since joining the Scarlets last summer, going on to win 10 caps in his first season in Wales.<\/p>\n With his broken-field running, Murray is a throwback – having been an outside shout for a spot in Andy Farrell’s Lions squad.<\/p>\n With Murray and Rees-Zammit in the back-three, Tandy will have two game-breaking talents who can create something from nothing in his side.<\/p>\n Arguably Adams, Rees-Zammit and Murray is the strongest back-three Tandy can field, but he’s blessed with other options beyond that.<\/p>\n “That’s probably the strength and the biggest point of the difference at the moment,” said former Wales centre Tom Shanklin recently. “If our sides get good go-forward ball, which is quite tough at the moment, then they’re going to be really dangerous.”<\/p>\n There’s Rogers of course, while Scarlets team-mate Ellis Mee impressed on his Wales debut against Ireland earlier this year.<\/p>\n Keelan GIles, having had to wait nine years for his first Wales cap, finally made his Test debut this summer.<\/p>\n The Ospreys<\/a> wing didn’t look out of place in his second-half cameo against Japan and has started the season strongly, crossing for two tries against the Bulls in Pretoria.<\/p>\n Dragons wing Rio Dyer and Gloucester flyer Josh Hathaway were both starting the final match of last autumn, while Liam Williams – now with Newcastle Red Bulls – was involved at the start of this year’s Six Nations<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cameron Winnett has been a regular with Wales since his debut in 2024, even if Murray has overtaken the Cardiff full-back in the pecking order.<\/p>\n