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Gloucester lock Freddie Thomas is likely to be named in Steve Tandy’s first Wales squad(Image: Chris Fairweather\/Huw Evans Agency)<\/p>\nWales face a daunting November scheduleGloucester lock Freddie Thomas is likely to be named in Steve Tandy’s first Wales squad(Image: Chris Fairweather\/Huw Evans Agency)<\/p>\n
The start of the Steve Tandy<\/a> era is fast approaching and the new head coach of Wales will undoubtedly already have the majority of his squad pencilled in.<\/p>\n Tandy has a very difficult task ahead of him this November with Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa coming to Cardiff. Anyone who thinks Argentina will be easier than the All Blacks or the Springboks are mistaken.<\/p>\n The Pumas regularly beat the All Blacks and claimed another stunning victory during the Rugby Championship while they also beat the Wallabies and pushed the Springboks close.<\/p>\n This is the side we think has the best chance of overcoming Felipe Contepomi’s side.<\/p>\n 15. Blair Murray<\/strong><\/p>\n He may not be the biggest but the 24-year-old is a potent attacking threat who can create try scoring opportunities out of nothing.<\/p>\n Murray is rapid with wicked footwork and is an excellent finisher. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.<\/a><\/p>\n The Scarlets<\/a> man stood out in a poor Wales side last season and while he may not be the strongest in the air the positives outweigh the negatives.<\/p>\n 14. Louis Rees-Zammit<\/strong><\/p>\n The 24-year-old is sidelined with a toe injury and it remains to be seen whether he will recover in time to face the Pumas on November 9.<\/p>\n But if he is fit he must play.<\/p>\n The Bristol speedster is absolutely rapid and proved just how quick he really is with a stunning 70 metre solo try in the victory over Leicester Tigers.<\/p>\n He is pure x-factor and will add some stardust to the Wales back division.<\/p>\n 13. Max Llewellyn<\/strong><\/p>\n At 6ft 6in and over 16st Llewellyn has the size to make a mark on the international arena.<\/p>\n The powerful centre fell out of favour last season but was immediately called into the squad by Matt Matt Sherratt when he replaced Warren Gatland<\/a> as interim head coach midway through last season’s Six Nations<\/a>.<\/p>\n Wales need to find ways of getting over the gainline and this is something Llewellyn can offer them along with an underrated offloading game.<\/p>\n 12. Johnny Williams<\/strong><\/p>\n If Wales are to stand a chance of beating Argentina they need big men who can can over the advantage line and who don’t allow themselves to get physically dominated by a powerful Pumas side.<\/p>\n Despite playing consistently well for the Scarlets Williams fell out of favour during Gatland’s second stint as Wales boss.<\/p>\n But this is a clean slate and he will be hoping to become a regular fixture in the Wales midfield.<\/p>\n Ben Thomas is probably the favourite to start but while Williams may not be the subtlest player in the world he is capable of getting over the gainline and making significant post contact metres.<\/p>\n 11. Tom Rogers<\/strong><\/p>\n Rogers gave a good account of himself in a struggling Wales team last season and is somebody who could thrive if given the opportunity.<\/p>\n The Scarlets man is a very dangerous broken field runner and a decent finisher.<\/p>\n But Rogers’ point of difference is arguably his aerial prowess and this is an area of the game where he has excelled over the past couple of seasons. Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n In Test rugby if you lose the aerial battle you more often than not lose the game.<\/p>\n 10. Dan Edwards<\/strong><\/p>\n The Ospreys<\/a> playmaker started in the number 10 shirt when Wales broke their 18-Test losing streak against Japan this summer.<\/p>\n It will likely be a close call between Edwards and Sam Costelow while Callum Sheedy is also playing well.<\/p>\n But Edwards is a very confident player with a triple threat game who can get a backline moving.<\/p>\n He is not the finished article yet but his game management is good.<\/p>\n 9. Tomos Williams<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the first names on the team sheet.<\/p>\n The Gloucester number nine would likely have been a Test Lion this summer if he hadn’t suffered a tour-ending injury against Western Force.<\/p>\n Williams is one of the leading attacking scrum-halves in the Northern Hemisphere and Tandy needs the Gloucester star to be at his best if Wales are to stand a chance of succeeding next month.<\/p>\n 8. Aaron Wainwright<\/strong><\/p>\n The 28-year-old was outstanding for the Dragons in their 17-17 draw against the Sharks at Rodney Parade last weekend scoring an excellent try.<\/p>\n At his best Wainwright has proven he can make an impact against the better sides in world rugby but Wales needs the Dragons man to carry hard.<\/p>\n He is an athletic backrower but his primary focus has to be on getting his side over the gainline on a consistent basis in a similar vein to what he did when he was named player of the match when Wales beat England in a World Cup warm-up in 2023.<\/p>\n 7. Jac Morgan (Captain)<\/strong><\/p>\n The 25-year-old cemented his place as a top end international class player on this summer British & Irish Lions tour of Australia.<\/p>\n Morgan won the respect of pundits in the Southern Hemisphere for his performances Down Under.<\/p>\n The Ospreys star will be integral to Tandy’s plans of turning around Welsh rugby’s fortunes.<\/p>\n 6. Freddie Thomas<\/strong><\/p>\n This is an eye-catching selection but one which could work well.<\/p>\n Thomas has played the majority of his rugby for Wales at lock but has been playing blindside flanker for Gloucester in the Gallagher Prem.<\/p>\n Argentina will select an enormous backrow and tend to go with a big bruiser on the blindside like Pablo Matera or Marcus Kremer.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 5. Adam Beard<\/strong><\/p>\n The 29-year-old did not tour Japan this summer but it would be a shock if he did not earn a recall this autumn.<\/p>\n Beard has been excellent for Montpellier in the Top 14 since leaving the Ospreys and should improve as a player.<\/p>\n Wales need big men to match the power of the Pumas pack and while he may not win many plaudits Beard’s workrate, size and excellence at the maul will be needed.<\/p>\n 4. Dafydd Jenkins<\/strong><\/p>\n Jenkins is another player who missed the summer tour of Japan through injury but expect the Exeter Chiefs lock to be included in Tandy’s first squad.<\/p>\n The 22-year-old has a hard edge about him and is a natural leader. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.<\/a><\/p>\n Both Jenkins and Beard will have their work cut out against a monstrous Argentina pack who went toe-to-toe with the Springboks and took the All Blacks to the cleaners in the Rugby Championship.<\/p>\n 3. Archie Griffin<\/strong><\/p>\n As has been noted on a number of occasions tighthead prop is an area of concern in Wales.<\/p>\n Griffin is Wales’ best bet but it doesn’t help that he is not first choice at Bath.<\/p>\n But he does have credit in the bank and Griffin is somebody capable of putting a huge shift in around the park.<\/p>\n He is a dynamic carrier who gets through tons of work both in defence and the breakdown.<\/p>\n The acid test will be the scrum.<\/p>\n 2. Dewi Lake<\/strong><\/p>\n The 26-year-old is exactly the type of forward Wales needs in its ranks if it is to get the upper hand against the Pumas.<\/p>\n Lake is a very powerful carrier capable of trucking it up the middle and making significant post contact metres.<\/p>\n His throwing in at the lineout has improved immeasurably over the past few seasons but more than anything he is someone who very rarely comes off second best in the physical confrontations.<\/p>\n 1. Nicky Smith<\/strong><\/p>\n The 31-year-old is Wales’ best scrummager and has been going well at the set-piece for Leicester Tigers.<\/p>\n It would be another tough Test against the Pumas who usually favour La Rochelle tighthead Joel Sclavi.<\/p>\n Smith isn’t the biggest man but he can carry and offers a jackling threat at the breakdown.<\/p>\n But more than anything he needs to gain the upper hand at the scrum.<\/p>\n Replacements<\/strong>16. Evan Lloyd<\/strong><\/p>\n He’s not first choice at Cardiff<\/a> but Lloyd has a high ceiling.<\/p>\n The 23-year-old is a big man and size counts in the international arena.<\/p>\n 17. Gareth Thomas<\/strong><\/p>\n Thomas is an experienced campaigner who has been a consistent performer for Wales.<\/p>\n 18. Keiron Assiratti<\/strong><\/p>\n The 28-year-old is a decent scrummager and played well in Cardiff’s victory over Connacht last weekend.<\/p>\n 19. James Ratti<\/strong><\/p>\n Ratti is a powerful man who can play lock and in the backrow.<\/p>\n 20. Ross Moriarty<\/strong><\/p>\n The 31-year-old is back in Welsh rugby after a couple of years playing for Brive in France.<\/p>\n Moriarty is an enforcer who has started the season well for the Ospreys and is in line for a long-awaited recall to the Wales squad.<\/p>\n 21. Morgan Morse<\/strong><\/p>\n We’ve gone for a 6\/2 split on the bench to counter Argentina’s power.<\/p>\n Morse is somebody who could make a huge impact in the final quarter of a Test match.<\/p>\n 22. Kieran Hardy<\/strong><\/p>\n The 29-year-old is a solid player who could add some impetus off the bench.<\/p>\n 23. Ben Thomas<\/strong><\/p>\n Thomas’ versatility makes him the perfect player to bring off the bench if Wales do go for a 6\/2 split.<\/p>\n * Follow all of our channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Welsh rugby news. Sign up to our<\/strong> free daily newsletter here<\/strong><\/a> and our <\/strong>WhatsApp channel here<\/strong><\/a> for all the breaking news.<\/strong><\/p>\n You can also follow us on social media on our <\/strong>X account<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>Facebook<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> Instagram<\/strong><\/a> and<\/strong> TikTok.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n For more exclusive stories and in-depth analysis, you can <\/strong>sign up for the Inside Welsh Rugby substack newsletter here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n