A Shocking Shake-Up: Four Wales Stars Axed as Tandy Reshapes Squad!
In a move that's sent ripples through Welsh rugby, head coach Steve Tandy has wielded the axe, making four significant changes to the matchday 23 for their upcoming home clash against France. The most prominent casualty is Ben Thomas, a player who's been a consistent presence in the Welsh jersey, featuring in all but one of their last 17 Tests. His exclusion marks a dramatic shift for the squad.
Thomas found himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons during Wales' heavy 48-7 defeat to England last weekend. He was one of four players who received a yellow card, and his performance was particularly scrutinized after a wayward pass led directly to an England try. This uncharacteristic error seems to have sealed his fate, as he's been removed from the squad entirely. But here's where it gets controversial: was this a single performance issue, or a symptom of a deeper problem within the team's strategy?
Joining Thomas on the sidelines is Josh Macleod, who started at openside flanker against England. Also omitted from the matchday squad are replacements Harri Deaves (back-row) and Liam Belcher (hooker). Tandy's decision to go with a 5-3 split on the bench indicates a strategic adjustment, prioritizing different skill sets for the upcoming encounter.
In the forward pack, Olly Cracknell is set to debut at number eight, prompting a reshuffle that sees Aaron Wainwright move to blindside flanker and Alex Mann shift to openside. The second-row partnership of Dafydd Jenkins and Adam Beard remains solid, providing a strong foundation. Captain Dewi Lake will lead from hooker, with a new front-row pairing of Rhys Carre and Tomas Francis on either side of him. Francis's inclusion is particularly noteworthy, as this marks his first start for Wales since the Rugby World Cup in 2023.
And this is the part most people miss: Carre and Francis come into the starting lineup in a direct swap with Nicky Smith and Archie Griffin, who will now feature on the bench. This suggests a deliberate choice to inject fresh energy and perhaps a different style of play into the starting XV. What are your thoughts on this bold front-row change? Does it signal a shift in tactical approach?
In the halves, Tomos Williams and Dan Edwards will continue their partnership. The midfield sees Joe Hawkins stepping into the inside centre role vacated by Thomas, with Eddie James partnering him. The back-three remains unchanged, featuring Josh Adams and Ellis Mee on the wings, and Louis Rees-Zammit at full-back – a potent attacking unit.
On the bench, Ryan Elias is the chosen cover at hooker over Belcher, and Jarrod Evans provides an additional option in the backline. The full Wales squad for the match against France is as follows:
Starting XV: Louis Rees-Zammit (36 caps); Ellis Mee (5 caps), Eddie James (5 caps), Joe Hawkins (5 caps), Josh Adams (66 caps); Dan Edwards (8 caps), Tomos Williams (68 caps); Rhys Carre (24 caps), Dewi Lake (27 caps, capt.), Tomas Francis (78 caps), Dafydd Jenkins (27 caps), Adam Beard (62 caps), Aaron Wainwright (63 caps), Alex Mann (12 caps), Olly Cracknell (2 caps).
Replacements: Ryan Elias (44 caps), Nicky Smith (59 caps), Archie Griffin (12 caps), Ben Carter (15 caps), Taine Plumtree (12 caps), Kieran Hardy (29 caps), Jarrod Evans (14 caps), Mason Grady (16 caps).
Considering the recent performance against England, do you believe these changes are the right move for Wales, or is Steve Tandy taking a gamble that could backfire? Let us know your opinions in the comments below!
