Wales will tour Japan this summer
Sam Costelow of Wales(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
Matt Sherratt named his 33-man Wales squad to tour Japan yesterday as the men in red look to put an end to a wretched 17 Test matches without a victory.
The interim head coach is without a handful of players either due to the British & Irish Lions tour or injury but has selected a squad he thinks can beat Japan.
Here is the matchday squad Sherratt is likely to select for the first Test.
15. Blair Murray
The Scarlets man is one of the only bright sparks to have come out of a horrible season for Wales. Murray is a devastating attacking full back with tremendous footwork, a wicked turn of pace and is a good finisher.
His defence has also improved dramatically as the season has wore on. Cam Winnett will push hard but Murray has that extra bit of attacking X-factor and cutting edge in attack.
14. Tom Rogers
The 26-year-old is another player who has risen above the mediocrity to have a decent season. Rogers is a dangerous broken field runner and a good finisher while he is also excellent under the high ball.
The Scarlets wing should thrive on the hard grounds of Japan this summer.
13. Joe Roberts
Given Max Llewellyn has not been selected Roberts is the clear front runner to wear the number 13 shirt in the first Test in Kitakyushu. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
Roberts took some time to get back to his best after missing most of last season with a serious knee injury but has been playing well in recent weeks. The Scarlets centre is an attacking threat who has a habit of ghosting past defenders while he is also strong in defence.
12. Ben Thomas
This was a really close call between Thomas and Scarlets centre Johnny Williams who has been in top form for the west Walians.
There is a strong argument to go for explosive ball carrier Williams given his successful combination with Roberts at club level but Thomas gets the nod by the skin of his teeth.
Experience wins the day here and the fact Thomas fits into the expansive style of rugby Sherratt will likely want to adopt in Japan this summer, along with his kicking game.
11. Josh Adams
The Cardiff wing is perhaps not the player he was four years ago when he toured South Africa with the Lions, mainly due to injury.
But he arguably remains Wales’ best wing and his experience will be important this summer. Adams needs to recapture his best form on the international stage.
10. Sam Costelow
This is a tight call between Costelow and in-form Ospreys playmaker Dan Edwards but the Scarlets man’s experience wins the nod.
Costelow was outstanding for the Scarlets in South Africa recently, especially in the victory over the Lions in Johannesburg. The 24-year-old has had a rough ride in recent years but he has always been very highly regarded by those within the game and looks back to his best.
His kicking out of hand and at the posts has been excellent in South Africa while he provides a running threat and is brave in defence.
9. Kieran Hardy
The 29-year-old is arguably in the best form of his career and will have a point to prove after getting left out of the Six Nations squad.
Hardy has been outstanding for the Ospreys in recent months and is the clear favourite to start both Tests in Japan.
His speed of service and box kicking are high quality but he is also far more of a threat with ball in hand than he once was.
8. Taulupe Faletau
This is no development tour, as is evidenced by the fact Sherratt has opted to take the 34-year-old Faletau.
The Cardiff No 8 has been plagued by injuries over the last couple of seasons but has hit form over the past couple of months. Wales will need their experienced players to take a lead in Japan this summer and Faletau will be key for Sherratt’s side.
Faletau will also want to stay fit just in case injuries arise in Australia and the Lions are in need of reinforcements.
7. Tommy Reffell
With Jac Morgan away with the Lions, one would expect Reffell to start both Tests in the seven jersey.
The Leicester Tigers back rower is very good at the breakdown and typically gets through a mountain of work defensively.
Wales will need Reffell to slow down the speed of Japan’s ruck ball to prevent a dangerous backline from getting on the front foot.
6. Aaron Wainwright
If you were to pick the backrow purely on form then there’s an argument that Taine Plumtree should wear the number six shirt after an outstanding couple of months for the Scarlets but Wainwright’s experience edges this contest.
Wales may have lost their previous 17 Test matches but more often than not Wainwright has risen above the mediocrity. Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
Sherratt will need the 27-year-old to carry hard and will want to get the ball in his hands as much as possible in the wide channels.
5. Teddy Williams
The 24-year-old is currently in a rich vein of form and has been consistently excellent for Cardiff this season.
Williams is an athletic second-row with a big engine and is an outstanding lineout forward. The big question mark with regards Williams in the Test arena has been whether he has the physicality to make an impact against the biggest packs in world rugby such as South Africa, England, Ireland or France.
That remains to be seen but he deserves an opportunity and will suit the way Sherratt wants to play down to the ground in Japan.
4. James Ratti
The Ospreys man should complement Teddy Williams well in the boiler house and at 120kg and 6ft 5 inches he clearly has the size to make an impact at his level.
Ratti has been an unsung hero for the Ospreys for the past couple of seasons and is the type of player to do the unseen donkey work which allows others to thrive.
The 27-year-old deserves an opportunity to show what he can do at this level and just edges out Ben Carter.
3. Archie Griffin
Tighthead prop is an area of grave concern in Welsh rugby but Sherratt will be glad to see Griffin fit and firing again.
The 23-year-old made a sensational debut for Wales in the first Test against the Wallabies last summer putting in a phenomenal 26 tackles, the sort of statistic a backrower would be proud of.
Griffin is also an explosive carrier and gets through a mountain of work around the park. His scrummaging is a work in progress but he did give the much vaunted Australian loosehead Angus Bell a tuning against Australia last November.
2. Dewi Lake
The 26-year-old will undoubtedly be very disappointed to have missed out on the Lions tour but he will be chomping at the bit to impress for Wales in Japan.
Lake is an inspirational leader and brings so much power to the Wales front-row. The Ospreys man is a very powerful carrier, while he is also very good at the breakdown.
Lake will be a key player for Wales this summer.
1. Nicky Smith
The likelihood is Smith missed out to Scotland’s Pierre Schoeman when it came to Lions selection and probably paid the price for Wales’ dismal showing this season, even if his form was good.
Smith has been outstanding for Leicester Tigers since leaving the Ospreys and is one of the most destructive scrummaging looseheads in European rugby.
The 31-year-old could give Japan a torrid time at the set-piece.
Replacements
16. Elliot Dee
The Dragons hooker did a decent job for Wales during the Six Nations and of all the hookers in Welsh rugby’s his darts are the most accurate.
17. Gareth Thomas
The Ospreys man is an underrated player who gets through a lot of work and is a strong scrummager.
18. Keiron Assiratti
The 27-year-old is an excellent technical scrummager who will have a big part to play but Griffin is likely to start.
19. Freddie Thomas
The 23-year-old has been playing well for Gloucester and is a very athletic forward who could suit Wales in Japan. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.
20. Taine Plumtree
Plumtree has cut out the silly penalties and has been outstanding for the Scarlets over the past month and his athleticism will be valuable in Japan.
21. Reuben Morgan-Williams
A first Wales cap has been a long time coming for the 27-year-old who has been a beacon of consistency for the Ospreys in recent seasons. A big threat will ball in hand.
22. Dan Edwards
It’s a really tight call between Edwards and Costelow for the number 10 shirt. Edwards will be a key player for Wales this summer and has a big future ahead.
23. Macs Page
The 20-year-old is one of the best prospects in Welsh rugby and is pure X-factor. A player to get excited about.
AloJapan.com