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Tomas Francis of Provence(Image: 2025 Icon Sport)<\/p>\nThere is one position Steve Tandy desperately needs to strengthenTomas Francis of Provence(Image: 2025 Icon Sport)<\/p>\n
Springboks legend Danie Craven once famously said: “The first player on any team sheet should be the tighthead prop.”<\/p>\n
Craven was speaking years before the game turned professional, but he was of course referring to the tighthead\u2019s importance in locking out a scrum. In the modern game there is far more to a tighthead\u2019s role than simply anchoring the set-piece, but it remains a vitally important component nonetheless.<\/p>\n
As Wales enters its first campaign under new head coach Steve Tandy, there are many areas in need of attention ahead of a testing autumn schedule which sees Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa visit the Principality Stadium.<\/p>\n
One area where Tandy desperately needs someone to step up is at tighthead prop. The scrum has been inconsistent at best over the past few years. 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 For years, Wales arguably had the best scrum in world rugby when Adam Jones was in his prime, while both Samson Lee and Tomas Francis were solid performers. But when it comes to destructive scrummaging tightheads who can consistently perform at Test level, the cupboard is relatively bare.<\/p>\n Archie Griffin will almost certainly be involved in the matchday 23 against Argentina this Sunday, but the 24-year-old is currently fourth choice at Bath behind Thomas du Toit, Will Stuart and Vilikesa Sela \u2014 hardly the ideal preparation for Test rugby.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, Griffin is a player with huge potential and brings a significant contribution around the park, which was evident when he made 26 tackles \u2014 a sensational effort for a tighthead \u2014 against Australia in 2024. But, by his own admission, his scrummaging remains a work in progress.<\/p>\n \u201cScrumming for me has been a big work-on, consistency-wise. I\u2019ve had some good performances, but others have shown I still have one or two areas to improve,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Keiron Assiratti is also a solid scrummager, but Wales simply do not possess the scrummaging power of most other Tier One nations. Tighthead prop is an area where more quality must be produced.<\/p>\n Dragons man Chris Coleman is currently in the squad, while Ben Warren, Henry Thomas, WillGriff John, Harri O\u2019Connor and Dillon Lewis (currently injured) have all featured in recent squads. But none of those mentioned are currently in the top echelon of international-class scrummagers, and that is what Welsh rugby is lacking.<\/p>\n With the Rugby World Cup<\/a> just two years away, Tandy could do far worse than pick up the phone to Francis.<\/p>\n The 77-cap tighthead has been plying his trade for big-spending French club Provence Rugby in Pro D2, where he is a teammate of George North.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never retired from Test rugby and I never will retire,\u201d Francis told RugbyPass in August 2024. \u201cBut I\u2019ve moved my family to France and I want to spend my time with them while I\u2019m here.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I\u2019m going back to Wales to play, then they\u2019d be stuck in France on their own for weeks on end, and that wouldn\u2019t be fair.\u201d<\/p>\n Francis\u2019 contract at Provence is expected to expire just before the next World Cup in Australia. He will be 35 by then, but Wales are desperately short of experienced scrummagers \u2014 and those who can truly lock out a scrum at Test level are worth their weight in gold.<\/p>\n If the scrum is going backwards, it has a knock-on effect across the entire team.<\/p>\n Attempting to bring Francis back into the mix before the next World Cup would be a step in the right direction.<\/p>\n Wales also desperately need a new wave of tighthead props to start emerging. Wales U20s tighthead Sam Scott has long been regarded as a potential international star, and Warren Gatland<\/a> considered taking the then 18-year-old on the summer tour of Australia in 2024. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.<\/a><\/p>\n But he has not yet broken into the Bristol Bears senior side, and it will take time before he becomes a genuine Wales option.<\/p>\n Dragons youngsters Codi Purnell and Owain James, Cian Hire of the Ospreys<\/a>, along with Jac Pritchard and Gabe Hawley of the Scarlets<\/a>, are promising prospects who will hopefully push through over the coming seasons.<\/p>\n Wales have plenty of areas to improve under Tandy, but shoring up the front row would be a very good place to start. A reliable scrum won\u2019t fix everything \u2014 but without one, the rest of the rebuild becomes a lot harder.<\/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