I posted one of these when Pivac and Gats v2 came in, so about time I did one for Tandy. I'll run through each position to see where we stand in terms of quality and depth.
There's no getting away from the state we find ourselves in. The losing run may be over, but I'm not sure how much that will affect things. I'm sure Tandy is sighing a huge sigh of relief that he doesn't have to start his tenure with that hanging over his head though. He get's a clean slate which is a huge plus.
Onto the players, in the same way as before I've colour coded them as follows, all imo:
Purple = world class
Black = proven international quality
Red = need to prove themselves
Blue = lacking in quality
Loosehead Prop
Nicky Smith | Gareth Thomas | Kemsley Mathias | Corey Domachowski | Rhys Carre
Overall, we have an OK crop of looseheads, but none of the options really set the world alight. Nicky Smith is probably the frontrunner, edging Gareth Thomas as he offers just a little more. Neither will let Wales down, but we're crying out for a loosehead with a real point of difference e.g. Genge's carrying. With that in mind I've included Rhys Carre on this list, even though he's currently not eligible, but I do wonder whether the upcoming consultation into Welsh rugby may open the door again. Domachowski showed promise a couple of seasons back, but really hasn't kicked on at all which is hugely disappointing. Mathias offers a lot on the loose, but has struggled with his scrummaging, although did look like he was turning a corner there last season before injury. Big season for him I think to see if he can push on.
Tighthead Prop
Keiron Assiratti | Archie Griffin | Dillon Lewis | Chris Coleman | Henry Thomas | Rhys Henry | Sam Scott
This really is a sorry looking bunch of tightheads. I do think Archie Griffin is capable of becoming international class given a little time, but the others aren't really good enough. I had high hopes for Assiratti a few years back, but similar to Domachowski he's just not kicked on at all. Including Scott on this list at all shows the desperation measures, because he looks far from ready, with his scrummaging inconsistent at U20 level which doesn't bode well. I think Dillon Lewis will likely come back into the squad following his move to the Dragons.
Hooker
Dewi Lake | Elliot Dee | Ryan Elias | Evan Lloyd | Liam Belcher | Brodie Coughlan | Sam Parry
After a stop/start couple of years, I'm hoping to see Lake really kick on. He'll be a little disappointed with his form this summer and deservedly missing out on Lions selection. I almost put Dee down as 'proven international quality' with his throwing accuracy a big plus, but his all-round game has otherwise dipped recently imo. Elias is liked for his scrummaging and carrying, but his throwing can be such a liability at times that it's genuinely cost us games. Belcher's caps came too late, feel like he's on the wane and his performances v Japan seemed to prove that. I'm excited by the prospects of Lloyd and Coughlan though, both big, dynamic hookers who look to have bright futures.
Lock
Dafydd Jenkins | Adam Beard | Teddy Williams | Freddie Thomas | Will Rowlands | James Fender | Rhys Davies | Jake Ball | Ben Carter | Seb Davies | Christ Tshiunza | Ryan Woodman
Lots of options here, but not many proven ones. I think Dafydd Jenkins is the only one really, and even then I think he still needs to fill out to hit his full potential. I'm not a fan of Beard at all, whilst Rowlands and Ball are both past it. Seb Davies and Tshiunza have both failed miserably to develop at all! I'm a big fan of both Fender and Rhys Davies at the Ospreys, I think they have the bulk to really add something to this Welsh squad. Teddy Williams and Freddie Thomas also have a lot of potential as athletic ball playing locks, but balance needs to be found to ensure we have enough carrying grunt.
Blindside Flanker
Alex Mann | Aaron Wainwright | James Ratti | James Botham | Harri Keddie | Shane Lewis Hughes | Ross Moriarty
With the emergence of some options at no. 8, I'd look to move Wainwright back to blindside where he's a quality proven international. Mann, Ratti, and Botham all have potential. Botham in particular has had runs of games where he's looked very good, but hasn't been able to maintain it. Mann has dog, which I like, but I feel he needs to put on a stone to really be effective at the game he plays. Ross Moriarty could be an interesting option again if he can rediscover form at the Ospreys.
Openside Flanker
Jack Morgan | Josh Macleod | Tommy Reffell | Taine Basham | Thomas Young | Harri Deaves | Dan Davis
As ever we have plenty of option to choose from at openside. I personally rate Jack Morgan as possibly our only world class player, whilst I think Macleod proved himself last season and in Japan as an international quality player (and that's coming from someone that didn't rate him much previously). I'm probably hugely harsh on Reffell, but I've just never seen the fuss at international level, he's just meh in every regard! Basham has always had a hugely high ceiling, hopefully his move to Cardiff reignites his career. I like the look of Deaves as well, he's an all action player that gives everything. Young is probably past his best now, but you'd know he'd do a job if called on.
Number 8
Taulupe Faletau | Taine Plumtree | Morgan Morse | Morgan Morris | Mackenzie Martin | Alun Lawrence
This is probably the first time in forever that we've had more than 2 genuine options at 8! Not putting arguably the greatest Welsh player of the professional era in purple hurts, but we must be close to saying farewell to Faletau with the injuries continuing to mount unfortunately. Plumtree was phenomenal during the second half of last season, and showed his worth in the second test this summer too. That brings me to the best Welsh age grade player we've ever seen, surely it's a matter of when, not if, Morgan Morse emulates Pollock and announces himself to the world? Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself, but **** it!
I'll continue onto the backs in the next few days, but thought I'd end with my preferred starting pack from the above:
01 Nicky Smith (in the absence of Rhys Carre)
02 Dewi Lake
03 Archie Griffin
04 Rhys Davies
05 Dafydd Jenkins
06 Aaron Wainwright
07 Jack Morgan
08 Taine Plumtree
16 Evan Lloyd
17 Kemsley Mathias (bit of a punt, but I think he's offer more impact than Thomas)
18 Dillon Lewis
19 Teddy Williams
20 Josh Macleod (with Morse coming in once he's cemented his place in the Ospreys starting pack)
There's no getting away from the state we find ourselves in. The losing run may be over, but I'm not sure how much that will affect things. I'm sure Tandy is sighing a huge sigh of relief that he doesn't have to start his tenure with that hanging over his head though. He get's a clean slate which is a huge plus.
Onto the players, in the same way as before I've colour coded them as follows, all imo:
Purple = world class
Black = proven international quality
Red = need to prove themselves
Blue = lacking in quality
Loosehead Prop
Nicky Smith | Gareth Thomas | Kemsley Mathias | Corey Domachowski | Rhys Carre
Overall, we have an OK crop of looseheads, but none of the options really set the world alight. Nicky Smith is probably the frontrunner, edging Gareth Thomas as he offers just a little more. Neither will let Wales down, but we're crying out for a loosehead with a real point of difference e.g. Genge's carrying. With that in mind I've included Rhys Carre on this list, even though he's currently not eligible, but I do wonder whether the upcoming consultation into Welsh rugby may open the door again. Domachowski showed promise a couple of seasons back, but really hasn't kicked on at all which is hugely disappointing. Mathias offers a lot on the loose, but has struggled with his scrummaging, although did look like he was turning a corner there last season before injury. Big season for him I think to see if he can push on.
Tighthead Prop
Keiron Assiratti | Archie Griffin | Dillon Lewis | Chris Coleman | Henry Thomas | Rhys Henry | Sam Scott
This really is a sorry looking bunch of tightheads. I do think Archie Griffin is capable of becoming international class given a little time, but the others aren't really good enough. I had high hopes for Assiratti a few years back, but similar to Domachowski he's just not kicked on at all. Including Scott on this list at all shows the desperation measures, because he looks far from ready, with his scrummaging inconsistent at U20 level which doesn't bode well. I think Dillon Lewis will likely come back into the squad following his move to the Dragons.
Hooker
Dewi Lake | Elliot Dee | Ryan Elias | Evan Lloyd | Liam Belcher | Brodie Coughlan | Sam Parry
After a stop/start couple of years, I'm hoping to see Lake really kick on. He'll be a little disappointed with his form this summer and deservedly missing out on Lions selection. I almost put Dee down as 'proven international quality' with his throwing accuracy a big plus, but his all-round game has otherwise dipped recently imo. Elias is liked for his scrummaging and carrying, but his throwing can be such a liability at times that it's genuinely cost us games. Belcher's caps came too late, feel like he's on the wane and his performances v Japan seemed to prove that. I'm excited by the prospects of Lloyd and Coughlan though, both big, dynamic hookers who look to have bright futures.
Lock
Dafydd Jenkins | Adam Beard | Teddy Williams | Freddie Thomas | Will Rowlands | James Fender | Rhys Davies | Jake Ball | Ben Carter | Seb Davies | Christ Tshiunza | Ryan Woodman
Lots of options here, but not many proven ones. I think Dafydd Jenkins is the only one really, and even then I think he still needs to fill out to hit his full potential. I'm not a fan of Beard at all, whilst Rowlands and Ball are both past it. Seb Davies and Tshiunza have both failed miserably to develop at all! I'm a big fan of both Fender and Rhys Davies at the Ospreys, I think they have the bulk to really add something to this Welsh squad. Teddy Williams and Freddie Thomas also have a lot of potential as athletic ball playing locks, but balance needs to be found to ensure we have enough carrying grunt.
Blindside Flanker
Alex Mann | Aaron Wainwright | James Ratti | James Botham | Harri Keddie | Shane Lewis Hughes | Ross Moriarty
With the emergence of some options at no. 8, I'd look to move Wainwright back to blindside where he's a quality proven international. Mann, Ratti, and Botham all have potential. Botham in particular has had runs of games where he's looked very good, but hasn't been able to maintain it. Mann has dog, which I like, but I feel he needs to put on a stone to really be effective at the game he plays. Ross Moriarty could be an interesting option again if he can rediscover form at the Ospreys.
Openside Flanker
Jack Morgan | Josh Macleod | Tommy Reffell | Taine Basham | Thomas Young | Harri Deaves | Dan Davis
As ever we have plenty of option to choose from at openside. I personally rate Jack Morgan as possibly our only world class player, whilst I think Macleod proved himself last season and in Japan as an international quality player (and that's coming from someone that didn't rate him much previously). I'm probably hugely harsh on Reffell, but I've just never seen the fuss at international level, he's just meh in every regard! Basham has always had a hugely high ceiling, hopefully his move to Cardiff reignites his career. I like the look of Deaves as well, he's an all action player that gives everything. Young is probably past his best now, but you'd know he'd do a job if called on.
Number 8
Taulupe Faletau | Taine Plumtree | Morgan Morse | Morgan Morris | Mackenzie Martin | Alun Lawrence
This is probably the first time in forever that we've had more than 2 genuine options at 8! Not putting arguably the greatest Welsh player of the professional era in purple hurts, but we must be close to saying farewell to Faletau with the injuries continuing to mount unfortunately. Plumtree was phenomenal during the second half of last season, and showed his worth in the second test this summer too. That brings me to the best Welsh age grade player we've ever seen, surely it's a matter of when, not if, Morgan Morse emulates Pollock and announces himself to the world? Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself, but **** it!
I'll continue onto the backs in the next few days, but thought I'd end with my preferred starting pack from the above:
01 Nicky Smith (in the absence of Rhys Carre)
02 Dewi Lake
03 Archie Griffin
04 Rhys Davies
05 Dafydd Jenkins
06 Aaron Wainwright
07 Jack Morgan
08 Taine Plumtree
16 Evan Lloyd
17 Kemsley Mathias (bit of a punt, but I think he's offer more impact than Thomas)
18 Dillon Lewis
19 Teddy Williams
20 Josh Macleod (with Morse coming in once he's cemented his place in the Ospreys starting pack)
Last edited:
