Steve Tandy has much to ponder this summer with the Rugby World Cup just 16 months away
Steve Tandy will already have a detailed blueprint in place for how Wales intend to navigate a pivotal summer campaign that could shape the direction of this new era with the Rugby World Cup just 16 months away.
It begins with a non-cap fixture against the Barbarians at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, before Wales open their Nations Cup campaign against Fiji in Cardiff.
From there, attention turns to the southern hemisphere and a demanding trip to San Juan to face Argentina, before the summer concludes with perhaps the toughest assignment in world rugby: a meeting with the reigning world champions South Africa in Durban.
Against that backdrop, the coming weeks will present Tandy with a series of significant selection and tactical decisions. So what are the key calls facing the Wales interim head coach this summer? Win free tickets to watch Fiji v Wales in Cardiff this summer
How to get the best out of Louis Rees-Zammit?
Tandy will be pondering how to get the best out of Wales’ most potent attacking weapon.
The 25-year-old started the entirety of Wales’ Six Nations campaign at full-back, with Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam of the opinion his long-term future will be in the number 15 shirt.
Rees-Zammit certainly did not have a bad Six Nations and there is an argument that by playing 15 he gets his hands on the ball more often.
The Bears speedster made the second most metres out of any player in the Championship, while he made significant post-contact metres.
On the face of it the statistics suggest Rees-Zammit’s transition to full-back has been a success even if there are some defensive glitches, as the former Gloucester man has been caught out of position on a few occasions.
But Rees-Zammit’s biggest attribute is his speed and his finishing ability out wide.
Rees-Zammit didn’t score a single try during the Six Nations and there is a school of thought his strengths are better utilised out on the wing.
This is something Tandy will have to consider moving forward.
One of the reasons Rees-Zammit was moved to full-back was due to the lack of genuine international-class alternatives.
Blair Murray is a tremendous attacking full-back but his lack of height got exposed during the autumn.
Tom Rogers and Ellis Mee – who are both strong under the high ball – are more realistic options at full-back.
This is something Tandy will have to consider this summer.
How and when to blood new caps?
When any squad is named there is an air of excitement surrounding any new caps.
The two most intriguing selections are Exeter Chiefs backrower Kane James and Harlequins centre Bryn Bradley.
There were serious concerns Wales would miss out on the Haverfordwest-born James who represented England at U20s level so the Welsh Rugby Union will see this as a victory.
James is a serious talent and a dynamic ball carrier who can add some much-needed x-factor to the Wales pack.
But he has only recently recovered from an ankle injury sustained against Cardiff in January and Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter has gone on record to voice his concerns that he may be rushed into the international game too soon.
Tandy will want to cap him as soon as possible to tie him to Wales; a place on the replacements’ bench in one of the three Nations Cup games this summer is the likelihood.
Powerful Harlequins centre Bradley is another dual-qualified player who Wales will be delighted to capture.
Bradley is a very powerful ball carrier capable of making significant post-contact metres and creates space through his offloading game.
Tandy needs to decide whether to start the 22-year-old or use him as an impact player to begin with.
What doesn’t go in their favour is the fact they are unavailable for the out of window game against the Barbarians because that would have been the perfect opportunity to blood both players.
Harrison Keddie was arguably the shock call-up as one of six uncapped players at the age of 29.
The Dragons back-rower is an industrious presence, renowned for the volume of unseen work he gets through, and his immediate priority will surely be securing a place on the plane to Argentina with Tandy expected to trim the squad before the Nations Cup starts.
Cardiff prop Rhys Barratt is almost certain to feature against the Barbarians due to the unavailability of English-based pair Rhys Carré and Nicky Smith.
He will need to make a big impact from the word go because Wales have strength at loosehead with the experienced Gareth Thomas also in the mix.
Ryan Woodman appears poised to earn his first Wales cap this summer, but the opportunity may be even more significant for Ospreys tighthead Ben Warren, with Wales currently short of proven options on the tighthead side of the scrum.
What is the optimum backrow balance?
Wales have genuine quality in the backrow but it is all about finding the correct combination.
The vast majority of people will agree that Aaron Wainwright is a nailed on starter at No 8 after a series of outstanding performances during the Six Nations.
Jac Morgan has now returned and is another player who is as close to nailed on as possible, whether that is at six or seven.
But who completes the loose forward trio?
Tandy has finally seen fit to recall Leicester Tigers openside Tommy Reffell but can Wales afford to go down the dual openside route?
Reffell is a scavenger at the breakdown but Wales’ pack is arguably not strong enough to carry that luxury.
Alex Mann is a player who went well towards the end of the Six Nations, making 33 tackles during the defeat to Ireland in Dublin – the highest tackle count ever recorded in a single Six Nations match.
James Botham is another player in credit after the Six Nations and the Cardiff backrower arguably has more strings to his bow.
If Wales want to load the pack with carriers then Olly Cracknell is also an option while Kane James and Ryan Woodman are also in the mix.
But looking ahead to the Rugby World Cup Tandy needs to find a way to get the best out of Taine Plumtree.
The Scarlets backrower has his critics and his discipline has been a serious problem with the 26-year-old having received no fewer than seven yellow cards this season.
There is a growing sense that Plumtree could yet emerge as the standout option at blindside flanker, with one international coach telling this writer the Scarlets back-rower possesses the “highest ceiling” of any candidate currently available to Wales.
A formidable athlete, Plumtree combines explosive carrying with outstanding lineout work and a level of skill few of his rivals can match. He offers genuine unpredictability, an x-factor capable of changing a game as illustrated by his superb solo try against the Dragons last week.
Yet for all his undeniable promise, questions remain over his discipline. Unless that aspect of his game improves, Wales may find his risk outweighs his considerable talent.
Is it time to rip up the midfield?
Historically, attack coach Matt Sherratt has favoured deploying a secondary playmaker at inside centre, with Ben Thomas and Joe Hawkins sharing those responsibilities since Tandy’s arrival in the Wales set-up.
The midfield partnership of Joe Hawkins at inside centre and Eddie James outside him endured understandable teething problems during the Six Nations, but the combination developed steadily as the Championship progressed.
There is a compelling case for Tandy to persist with the pairing throughout the summer. With the World Cup now little more than 16 months away, Wales must begin establishing continuity, cohesion and the kind of on-field understanding that can only be forged through sustained exposure together.
However, there remains significant debate over whether this represents Wales’ optimum midfield structure. Wales great Jonathan “Jiffy” Davies argued in his WalesOnline column during the Six Nations that Steve Tandy should revert to using a more direct, ball-carrying presence at inside centre.
Many within the game view Eddie James as a natural long-term option in that role, with the Scarlets centre arguably the most powerful carrier currently available to Wales. At his best, James can be a force of nature, capable of generating front-foot ball in a manner reminiscent of former Wales powerhouse Jamie Roberts.
Uncapped prospect Bryn Bradley is another regarded as possessing the physicality and power to develop into that type of midfielder in time.
Yet moving in that direction would require a degree of tactical recalibration from attack coach Sherratt, whose preferred structure has traditionally relied upon a second distributor at 12.
There is also a school of thought that Louie Hennessey could ultimately emerge as Wales’ long-term solution at outside centre.
This is arguably the most intriguing decision Tandy will have to make this summer.
Who wears the captain’s armband?
Let’s be honest, it will either be Morgan or Lake, although Dafydd Jenkins is also capable of undertaking the role.
Both Morgan and Lake are strong captains.
Arguably it does not make that much of a difference which one carries the official title of captain but given Lake is currently injured Morgan may be the favourite this time around.