Advertisement
The Steve Tandy era will begin amidst turmoil in Welsh rugby and a side that is hungry for results. A proud rugby nation, Wales have slid to 12th in the world following Warren Gatland’s unsuccessful second stint in charge and a restless period under interim coach Matt Sherratt.
Wales now have their man in Tandy, but the question remains if he can lift Wales out of the doldrums and restore their place in rugby’s pecking order as one the premier sides on the international level. The climb begins this Autumn, which sees Wales face Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa in a tough series of fixtures.
Tandy has a tough task on his hands considering the form of the Welsh teams in the URC and the distractions caused off field by the Union announcing the potential axing of a Welsh domestic side. He largely has the same pool of players that Gatland had to pick from, besides the return of Joe Hawkins, Rhys Carre, and speedster Louis Rees-Zammit from the NFL.
Depth In the Backs
Tandy has said that he has picked on form, leaving out a number of Wales regulars. The return of Louis Rees-Zammit alongside proven finishers like Josh Adams and Rio Dyer injects significant pace and counter-attacking threat into the back three.
Finding a settled, high-impact centre pairing will be at the top of Tandy’s objectives. The selection choices here will dictate much of Wales' attacking intent. Beside Ben Thomas, the return of Joe Hawkins is a welcome boost. He will likely partner the experienced Nick Tompkins and that combination offers defence and distribution. Another exciting prospect is the direct-running Max Llewellyn. A Hawkins-Llewellyn would provide a more physically imposing midfield.
Fly-half Uncertainty
The playmaking position has looked rather unsettled. This lack of a clear, in-form fly-half creates has meant a bit of a revolving door in Gatland’s tenure. This squad has seen Tandy recall Callum Sheedy and Jarrod Evans after extended periods outside the squad.
The pair have both had patchy form this season for club. The advantage Jarrod Evans brings is an attacking flair and ability to challenge the gain line, which could suit a more expansive Tandy system.
Callum Sheedy offers a more measured, kicking-focused game. Uncapped Dan Edwards has potential to make a go at the 10 jersey, after impressing in Japan.
Power in the Back Row
The competition in the back row is a genuine strength. With the experience of Aaron Wainwright, and promising younger players like Alex Mann, Morgan Morse and Taine Plumtree, Tandy has a backrow arsenal to work with.
Taine Plumtree provides exceptional mobility, work rate, and carrying capability. Another option is Leicester Tigers’ Olly Cracknell. Tandy needs to build a backrow combination that can match up against the physically imposing Springboks and All Blacks packs. A long-standing concern, the lack of proven depth at tighthead prop remains a potential Achilles' heel, especially against power-scrumming nations like Argentina and South Africa.
