Wales start their Six Nations campaign in just over a month at the Allianz Stadium
In just over a month, Wales head to Twickenham to start their Six Nations campaign against England.
Having not won in the competition since March 2023, there probably isn’t a more daunting beginning to the tournament that Steve Borthwick’s side. England have won their last 11 matches, beating the All Blacks in the autumn and inflicting a record Six Nations defeat on Wales in Cardiff last year.
All that is to say, it’s not an easy task that awaits Steve Tandy’s side.
The question is how will the Wales coach approach it, given Wales won’t want to start the tournament how they finished last year’s. Or how they finished the autumn, for that matter.
A heavy defeat to erode the already fragile confidence of this Wales team at the start of the tournament would hinder hopes of avoiding a third consecutive wooden spoon.
So what will Tandy do at the start of February?
Going through the team, the selection probably starts with the question of what to do with Louis Rees-Zammit. His form since returning from the NFL has been one of the few positives in Welsh rugby this season.
While wing seems the obvious position for him upon his return from American football, Bristol have started to use him at full-back recently and that could be where he is best served in the Test arena too.
It’s no secret Blair Murray was targeted aerially in the autumn, but Rees-Zammit is strong under the high ball. Full-back might give him the freedom to pop up more in attack, too.
Of course, if Tandy goes with Rees-Zammit in the 15 jersey, there’s a decision to be made on the wings then.
Mason Grady is back fully fit, having not played for Wales since the autumn opener against Fiji in 2024.
The Boxing Day clash with the Dragons showed how dangerous the Cardiff wing can be with multiple touches, but the New Year’s Day defeat to the Ospreys was the other side of the coin.
It’s hard to escape the notion that a player of Grady’s size should be capable of more on a consistent basis. The fact of the matter is Wales don’t have many players of his stature though, plus Matt Sherratt is a coach capable of getting more out of the 23-year-old.
So he could be one wing option. Then you’re looking at the likes of Josh Adams, Tom Rogers, Rio Dyer, Keelan Giles and Ellis Mee.
Judging by how Wales played in the autumn – particularly against New Zealand – the key will choosing someone with strong aerial skills.
Moving into midfield, it’s a tricky one. Joe Hawkins looked to have nailed down the 12 jersey at the end of the autumn, but he’s been playing fly-half for the struggling Scarlets in Sam Costelow’s absence.
It’s hard to see Wales moving away from a second playmaker, but there’s an argument they might need more robust carrying in that area of the field.
Getting that from 13 isn’t going to be easy either. Max Llewellyn is likely to miss the Six Nations through injury.
Eddie James has shown some flashes for the Scarlets, while Louie Hennessey was part of the autumn squad. Nick Tompkins is also a steady hand on the tiller, as is the returning Owen Watkin.
But solving who plays 13 isn’t an easy one at the minute.
Half-back, however, looks settled. One of the few areas of the team that is, with Tomos Williams and Dan Edwards the best options.
Up front, the first selection decision is which pair of props start. Tandy flitted between the pairings of Rhys Carre/Keiron Assiratti and Nicky Smith/Archie Griffin in the autumn.
The latter is probably stronger scrummaging, but the former maybe offers more in terms of carrying – which might get them the nod.
In the second-row, Dafydd Jenkins’ recent form makes him a certainty. The question is whether Adam Beard’s shoulder is fine or not to partner him, although the efforts of Rhys Davies for the Ospreys should move him firmly into the equation.
Perhaps the hardest thing to sort in the pack is the back-row.
Without captain and talisman Jac Morgan, openside is anyone’s guess – particularly given the decision not to bring Tommy Reffell into the squad in the autumn.
If the Leicester Tigers man is overlooked once more, then Scarlets captain Josh Macleod seems the best bet to wear the seven jersey. Alex Mann was also trusted with that duty, as was Harri Deaves.
Mann is an option on the blindside, as are Aaron Wainwright and Taine Plumtree. Someone like James Botham or Ross Moriarty might be a tempting choice for the start of the Six Nations, offering a little more experience and physicality.
Wainwright is also the obvious choice at No. 8, although a fit-again Taulupe Faletau – even at 35 – remains a class act. Don’t discount Morgan Morse, either.