The short version
- Steve Tandy has selected Max Llewellyn and Eddie James as the starting centres, favoring size over traditional ball-handling specialists.
- The selection represents a significant departure from previous campaigns, with seven changes made to the squad following a loss to South Africa.
- Wales aims to restart its Nations Championship campaign at home against Japan, seeking momentum before upcoming tests against New Zealand and Australia.
Wales head coach Steve Tandy has signaled a distinct tactical pivot for the resumption of the Nations Championship by prioritizing physical dominance in the midfield. For the upcoming match against Japan, scheduled for Saturday afternoon, Tandy has selected Max Llewellyn and Eddie James to form the central partnership. This decision marks a deliberate move away from the coach’s previous preference for recognized ball-playing specialists at the inside centre position, opting instead for a combination that emphasizes size and power.
The chosen duo presents one of the largest midfield pairings in Wales’ recent history. Llewellyn stands at six feet six inches and weighs approximately 107 kilograms, while James measures six feet four inches and tips the scales at roughly 103 kilograms. This physical profile suggests a strategy focused on contesting possession and disrupting Japanese attacking lines through sheer mass rather than intricate handling skills. The selection underscores a willingness to experiment with personnel to find a more robust defensive structure in the middle of the park.
Llewellyn’s inclusion at number 12 is particularly notable given his career trajectory. Although he began his senior career playing inside centre for Cardiff, he has spent much of his recent time at Gloucester operating on the outside flank alongside England international Seb Atkinson. Despite this experience at number 13, Llewellyn has previously indicated that inside centre remains his preferred role. His appointment here represents only his second start in that jersey for Wales since a World Cup warm-up fixture against England in August 2023.
Conversely, Eddie James, a product of the Scarlets academy, is viewed by Tandy as having a future primarily at outside centre. The 24-year-old from Carmarthen has developed his skills largely in the number 12 role but is being utilized on the wing of the midfield partnership for this specific encounter. This arrangement highlights the competitive nature within the squad, with Tandy noting that internal rivalry for positions is a desired state for the team’s development.
The selection process involved significant turnover from the previous international window. Tandy has made seven personnel changes to the side that suffered a comprehensive 43-0 defeat against South Africa in July. That heavy loss appears to have prompted a reassessment of tactical approaches, leading to the abandonment of earlier centre combinations involving Joe Hawkins or Ben Thomas. Thomas is currently unavailable due to a calf injury, while Hawkins has been omitted from the 23-man squad for the autumn series entirely.
Beyond the midfield adjustments, other key positions have seen updates. Fly-half Sam Costelow has been preferred over Dan Edwards in the starting lineup. The back three features Josh Adams and Louis Rees-Zammit on the wings, with Blair Murray at full-back. In the forward pack, captain Dewi Lake leads a front row that includes Nicky Smith and Archie Griffin. Dafydd Jenkins has recovered from a knee injury to reunite with Ben Carter in the second row, restoring a partnership established during the Six Nations campaign.
The squad composition reflects a heavy reliance on players competing in the English Premiership. Nine of the fifteen starters against Japan play their club rugby in England, including six of the eight forwards. The regional breakdown within Wales shows three players from Scarlets, two from Cardiff, one from Dragons, and none from Ospreys in the starting XV. However, half-backs Dan Edwards and Reuben Morgan-Williams have been named among the replacements, indicating depth in those areas despite their exclusion from the initial lineup.
Wales enters this phase of the Nations Championship with mixed results from the earlier stages. The team began its campaign in July with a victory against Fiji but subsequently fell to both Argentina and South Africa. Japan, currently fifth in their hemisphere table, also showed inconsistency in the opening rounds, defeating Italy but losing to Ireland and France. Both nations are now looking to establish form before the tournament intensifies.
The path ahead for Wales includes challenging fixtures at home against New Zealand and Australia on successive Saturdays. The campaign concludes with a trip to Twickenham for play-off games against yet-to-be-determined opposition. Tandy has expressed enthusiasm about returning to home soil, emphasizing the desire to make a strong impression in this match and set a positive tone for the remainder of the tournament. The outcome against Japan will likely serve as a critical indicator of whether the new physical approach yields the desired results.
This match marks Tandy’s sixth different centre partnership in his thirteenth international appearance as head coach. The frequent rotation in this area of the pitch suggests an ongoing search for the optimal balance between defensive solidity and attacking fluidity. As Wales seeks to improve upon its recent performances, the success of Llewellyn and James will be closely monitored by analysts and fans alike.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC Sport↗Wales opt for centre power pair against Japan
