A major shake-up has occurred in the Wales rugby team, with head coach Steve Tandy making some bold decisions for the upcoming clash against France. The most notable casualty is Ben Thomas, who has been a regular feature in the squad but has now been dropped entirely.
Thomas, who plays inside centre, was one of four Welsh players sin-binned during their heavy defeat to England last weekend. His mistake, a poor pass that led to an English try, has seemingly cost him his place in the team.
Despite his consistent involvement in 16 out of the last 17 Tests, Thomas finds himself out of the squad, along with Josh Macleod, the starting openside at Allianz Stadium. But here's where it gets controversial: these aren't the only changes Tandy has made.
Back-row Harri Deaves and hooker Liam Belcher, who were on the bench for the England match, have also been omitted. Tandy has opted for a different strategy, going with a 5-3 split on the bench. Olly Cracknell steps in at No. 8, with Aaron Wainwright moving to six and Alex Mann taking the openside position.
The second row remains unchanged, with Dafydd Jenkins and Adam Beard anchoring the scrum. Captain Dewi Lake starts at hooker, flanked by two new props, Rhys Carre and Tomas Francis, who will make his first start for Wales since the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
In the backline, Tomos Williams and Dan Edwards continue at half-back, with Joe Hawkins replacing Thomas at inside centre. Eddie James partners Hawkins in midfield, while the back three remains unchanged, featuring try-scorer Josh Adams, Ellis Mee, and Louis Rees-Zammit.
On the bench, Ryan Elias takes the hooker cover spot over Belcher, and Jarrod Evans provides additional backline cover.
The starting XV for Wales against France is: Louis Rees-Zammit; Ellis Mee, Eddie James, Joe Hawkins, Josh Adams; Dan Edwards, Tomos Williams; Rhys Carre, Dewi Lake, Tomas Francis; Dafydd Jenkins, Adam Beard; Aaron Wainwright, Alex Mann, Olly Cracknell.
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith, Archie Griffin, Ben Carter, Taine Plumtree, Kieran Hardy, Jarrod Evans, Mason Grady.
With these changes, Tandy has sent a clear message about the direction he wants to take the team. But what do these alterations mean for Wales' chances against France? And this is the part most people miss: it's not just about the starting lineup, but also the strategy and tactics employed. Will Tandy's decisions pay off, or will they be a controversial move that backfires?
What are your thoughts on these team selections? Do you think Tandy has made the right calls, or are there other players who should have been given a chance? Let us know in the comments and join the discussion!
