Following Warren Gatland’s summer squad announcement Wales’ first challenge will come against South Africa at Twickenham later this month.
This summer provides a chance for Wales to get back on track after a terrible Six Nations campaign which resulted in a first Wooden Spoon for 21 years. They couldn’t have asked for a tougher start than facing the world champions in a Test match which falls outside of World Rugby’s designated international window.
This means Wales will be without the likes of Tommy Reffell, Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza and Nick Tompkins, who all play in England, when they take on the Springboks. Rugby correspondent Steffan Thomas looks at the side Gatland is likely to select for Wales’ Twickenham assignment following his squad announcement on Monday, which included some big calls.
15. Cameron Winnett
It’s no surprise to see the 21-year-old retain his place in the squad after a strong Six Nations campaign from a personal perspective. The Cardiff full-back is an extremely intelligent footballer with time on the ball who very rarely takes the wrong option.
Facing the world champions will be a step up for Winnett but it would be a surprise if he wasn’t up to the task.
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14. Liam Williams
Williams has been plying his trade for Kubota Spears in Japan but Gatland believes the 33-year-old can still play a big part in this World Cup cycle. The experienced Williams’ best position is full-back but it would be very difficult to drop Winnett so he may have to make do with a place on the wing.
Test matches are usually won in the middle third, meaning Williams’ supreme aerial ability will be vitally important to Wales’ chances against the world champions. Williams’ experience will also benefit this young Wales squad, especially the likes of Winnett and Jacob Beetham.
13. Mason Grady
The 22-year-old didn’t get the minutes he would have liked during the Six Nations but made a big impact as a replacement in the final Test against Italy. Yes, there are areas of his game in need of improvement but the positives far outweigh the negatives as far as Grady is concerned.
Grady clearly has the physical attributes to excel in the international arena, while his speed is an area of his game which is often underappreciated. The Cardiff star is an explosive player who can get over the gain-line, while Gatland compared his offloading game to All Blacks great Sonny Bill Williams after the Wooden Spoon defeat to Italy.
12. Owen Watkin
Watkin may not be the flashiest of centres but he is the glue which holds the Ospreys backline together. The 27-year-old has won 38 caps for Wales but arguably had his best game in a red shirt during the Six Nations defeat to France in Cardiff.
Watkin is strong in defence, is a decent carrier and is a better distributor than he is given credit for. Has a real chance of nailing down that number 12 jersey for the Australia tour given Nick Tompkins will be unavailable for the South Africa Test.
11. Rio Dyer
The Dragons wing has been a consistent performer for Wales since making his Test debut against the All Blacks in 2022. Dyer has a huge work rate, has pace and is a decent finisher, while his aerial game is fairly strong.
The 24-year-old is one of the first names on Gatland’s team sheet and there is no indication that will change this summer, either against South Africa or Australia.
10. Sam Costelow
The Scarlets playmaker has had a really tough time of it over the past few months and was heavily criticised by some of the Welsh public during Wales’ bitterly disappointing Six Nations campaign. But the Welsh public need to be patient with Costelow who is highly regarded by the Wales management.
Given the 23-year-old is the only player in the squad who regularly plays outside-half at club level it makes him odds-on to start against the Springboks. Costelow has shown glimpses of what he is capable of on the international stage and the hope is the more time he has in the saddle the better he will become.
9. Gareth Davies
During the Six Nations the 33-year-old paid the price for Wales’ dreadful first half against Scotland by getting dropped for the next few games. But with Tomos Williams ruled out through injury Davies is the favourite to start against South Africa.
The Scarlets scrum-half remains a very dangerous broken-field runner who can score tries out of nothing, while the defensive side of his game has always been admired by the Wales management.
8. Aaron Wainwright
The Dragons backrower was one of the only shining lights in a dark Six Nations campaign for Wales. With Taulupe Faletau still out injured, Wainwright will continue in the No 8 shirt this summer.
The 26-year-old brings a lot of dynamism and his carrying game has improved significantly in recent months. Wainwright is equally as comfortable in the wide channels as he is in the tight, while his lineout work is very good.
7. Jac Morgan (captain)
With Reffell unavailable for the South Africa Test, Morgan is nailed on to start at Twickenham. Even though Reffell was outstanding throughout the Six Nations, Wales missed Morgan’s leadership and his dynamic carries.
Gatland was very clear in yesterday’s press conference that there would be a big emphasis on improving Wales’ carrying game and the return of Morgan is a boost for him in this regard. “We probably saw that a few weeks ago with the big difference with Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan when they played for the Ospreys against the Dragons,” said Gatland.
“For me it was their post-contact metres in terms of getting them on the front foot and getting them some quick ball. That’s definitely a focus for us.”
6. Taine Plumtree
One area where Wales have been searching for a long-term solution is at blindside flanker. Plumtree missed the Six Nations due to a shoulder injury and his return comes as a big boost for Wales.
The 24-year-old has the athleticism, the size and the physicality to really make an impact in the international arena. Plumtree can carry, is skilful while his is also an excellent lineout forward.
Facing South Africa will be a good barometer of where he’s currently at in his development.
5. Ben Carter
Carter burst onto the international scene at a young age winning 11 caps for his country but his progress stalled with injuries curtailing his game-time. With so many second-rows missing for the South Africa game this is Carter’s big chance to really put a marker down and he really does need to impress given the likes of Dafydd Jenkins, Will Rowlands and Adam Beard will return in the future.
A big performance could see Carter start alongside Jenkins in Australia.
4. Cory Hill
Hill was a firm favourite of Gatland’s when the New Zealander was last in charge of Wales but over the past year he has been playing for Secom Rugguts in the fourth division of Japanese rugby. This is hardly the perfect preparation for taking on the world champions, but needs must.
After naming his squad Gatland was keen to point out his belief that Hill could play an important role for Wales throughout this World Cup cycle. At his best the 32-year-old is an athletic forward, a superb lineout jumper and a powerful carrier.
3. Henry Thomas
Gatland has identified tighthead prop as a position where there is not much experience so it is no surprise to see Thomas back in the squad. The 32-year-old is an experienced operator and has developed a reputation as a strong scrummager in both the English Premiership and the Top 14.
Thomas, who will join the Scarlets next season, could be an important player for Wales over the next few seasons holding the fort until a younger alternative comes along.
2. Dewi Lake
Gatland will be delighted to welcome the Ospreys hooker back after he missed the Six Nations with a hamstring injury. Lake is exactly the sort of forward Wales need if they are to stand any chance of competing with South Africa.
The 25-year-old is an extremely powerful carrier and a strong scrummager, while he also adds an extra jackling threat at the breakdown. His throwing into the lineout will need to be accurate if Wales are to trouble the world champions.
1. Gareth Thomas
There was an outcry on social media at the exclusion of Ospreys prop Nicky Smith. While Smith is unlucky not to be involved, Thomas was always likely to start as first choice this summer regardless.
Thomas is a solid scrummager, while he gets through a lot of unseen work around the park especially in defence. A front row of the two Thomas’ and Lake is not a bad scrummaging unit.
Replacements
16. Elliot Dee
Dee was one of Wales’ better players during the Six Nations and out of the four hookers in Gatland’s training squad his darts are the most accurate. He may not be the biggest hooker but Dee is a smart operator who gets through a lot of work around the park.
17. Corey Domachowski
The Cardiff loosehead could is a powerful carrier who could offer some much-needed impact later on in the game but he faces a big challenge at scrum time.
18. Keiron Assiratti
Assiratti remains a work in progress but there were some positive signs during the Six Nations. The 26-year-old more than held his own against England’s Joe Marler but struggled against Andrew Porter a fortnight later in Dublin.
19. Matthew Screech
More than a few eyebrows were raised when Screech was named in the squad but given the amount of locks Wales have unavailable it’s a case of needs must. This would undoubtedly be the biggest challenge of his career by a country mile.
20. Mackenzie Martin
The 20-year-old is still finding his feet as a professional rugby player let alone as an international but his potential is obvious. Martin has the size and the power to cope at this level.
21. Kieran Hardy
The 28-year-old has a sharp service, while his box kicking is generally accurate and his support play is very good. Hardy will be hoping to leapfrog Gareth Davies in the pecking order this summer.
22. Ben Thomas
The 25-year-old has arguably been the form player in Wales this season and could offer the men in red a different attacking dimension off the bench later on in the game. It helps that he can cover 10, 12 and 15.
23. Jacob Beetham
Beetham, who up until recently was a target for Gregor Townsend’s Scotland, is very highly rated by the Wales management. The 23-year-old is a talented footballer with the size to get over the gainline, while he is also a long range kicker.
Can cover outside-half, centre and the back-three.