Argentina

[UKHamlet]

The Argentina match was one we used to look forward to with confidence, but in recent years, the Pumas have come on leaps and bounds, and are now rightly regarded as on the edge of the elite. The two teams' respective recent records points unerringly at a torrid time for the men in red. But we have a new coach, who is used to getting the best out of scraps and turning sows' ears into silk purses. Can he do it with Wales?

The Wales Online site has offered this as their slow day pick for the team:

The likely Wales XV to face Argentina as squad to include two superstars and new faces

There are just under two months until Steve Tandy's first Test match in charge of Wales against Argentina at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, November 9.

Much of selection will be based on form from the opening rounds of the United Rugby Championship and English Premiership. But the reality is the majority of the same players selected by Warren Gatland and Matt Sherratt will be included, injury permitting, due to the shallow talent pool in Wales.


However, as with any new coaching team there are bound to be some changes in personnel while there are players who have returned from injury or in Louis Rees-Zammit's case, another sport, up for selection. There are also one or two young players, such as Morgan Morse, whose time has surely arrived.


Here are the likely options Tandy may well look to call up and who he is likely to select in the starting XV.



Full-back
Blair Murray was one of the only bright sparks in an otherwise disastrous season for Wales in 2024/25.


The 23-year-old arrived in Llanelli from New Zealand last summer and made such an impact in the first block of fixtures for the Scarlets he immediately made the Wales squad.

Murray impressed both on the wing and full-back with his electric footwork, finishing prowess, pace and rugby intelligence becoming a huge asset to club and country.

On the odd occasion he has been found wanting in the air due to a lack of height but the positives far outweigh the negatives and Murray surely has to be the front runner to retain the number 15 shirt. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.

Other candidates are Cam Winnett who returned to the international fold for the summer tour of Japan after getting left out of the Six Nations squad, while selecting Rees-Zammit at full-back isn't completely out of the question.

Murray's Scarlets teammate Tom Rogers can also play there while exciting Dragons fullback Huw Anderson and Cardiff's Jacob Beetham are other options.

Likely selection: Blair Murray

Wingers
The back three wasn't the biggest issue for Wales last season; they just did not have a strong enough pack to put them on the front foot.

Tandy will no doubt be very keen to get Rees-Zammit back into the fold, although he may take a bit of time to get back up to speed with Bristol Bears after his 18-month stint in American football.

Bristol's director of rugby Pat Lam insists he is looking good and is the fastest player in the Bears squad, while the pulling power of Rees-Zammit in terms of selling tickets is another reason why he will be in the team and a huge focus this autumn.

Josh Adams has endured a stop-start couple of years due to injury and has struggled to regain the form which propelled him onto the British & Irish Lions tour in 2021.

But he remains a safe pair of hands at Test level.

Tom Rogers is another player who rose above the mediocrity last season with his aerial prowess, pace and broken field runner marking the Scarlets man out as a dangerous player.

Ellis Mee impressed on his debut against Ireland but was left out of the summer squad, while Rio Dyer will be desperate to get back into the squad, as will Gloucester's Josh Hathaway who missed the summer tour through injury.

Keelan Giles finally won a long-awaited first cap in Japan while rising Scarlets star Macs Page is one of the most exciting players in the Welsh game.

Likely selections: Louis Rees-Zammit and Tom Rogers

Centres
Wales have a handful of very talented centres but have struggled to find the right balance in midfield.

Sherratt was a big fan of Ben Thomas at 12 with the Cardiff man operating as a traditional Southern Hemisphere style second five-eighth.

Thomas is a talented playmaker but has not fully convinced as an international inside centre, although he has not been helped by playing behind a struggling pack of forwards.

If Sherratt is appointed as attack coach his preference is likely to be Thomas but will Tandy prefere a more physical 12 who can dominante the gain-line and make significant post-contact metres?

Scarlets centre Johnny Williams does this extremely well at club level but does he have enough strings to his bow to be as effective as a Test player?

His Scarlets teammate Eddie James has a high ceiling but he is a work in progress and it will also be interesting to see whether Tandy gives Ospreys centre Keiron Williams a chance at Test level.

Bath's Louie Hennessey and Harlequins' Bryn Bradley are also potential long-term options, as is Joe Westwood of the Dragons and Steffan Emanuel of Cardiff.

Ospreys man Owen Watkin and experienced Saracens centre Nick Tompkins are safe pairs of hands without setting the world on fire.

When it comes to outside centre, the first thing Sherratt did was call up Max Llewellyn. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free

The Gloucester centre has played very well in the English Premiership but has not yet had a standout game at Test level so the jury is out.


Tom Rogers, Max Llewellyn and Ben Thomas sing the anthem.(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
Prior to his move to England Joe Hawkins was the next big thing and his return to Wales with the Scarlets puts him right back into the mix.

Scarlets centre Joe Roberts is somebody who has performed well at club level and has shown glimpses of his ability on the international stage.

The Scarlets' Macs Page is one of Welsh rugby's best prospects but it would be a surprise if he did not start his international career on the wing.

Likely centres: Ben Thomas and Max Llewellyn

Outside-half
This has been a problem position for Wales since Dan Biggar called time on his international career after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Gareth Anscombe is still an option after signing for French Top 14 outfit Bayonne but Wales really need to find a long-term solution.

Dan Edwards put in an extremely assured performance when Wales finally broke their losing streak against Japan a couple of months ago. The Ospreys man looks to be in pole position to wear the number 10 shirt against Argentina.

Despite the unfair criticism thrown his way Sam Costelow is a good player who was outstanding for the Scarlets during the back-end of last season.

The 24-year-old is a confidence player and the competition with Edwards should push each other on.

It will be interesting to see if Tandy opts to include Jarrod Evans who was also called into the Six Nations squad by Sherratt and gave a good account of himself off the bench. Evans is a stellar attacking player but might be better suited to the bench when the game has broken up.

It will also be fascinating to see how Joe Hawkins goes at outside-half for the Scarlets.

Cardiff's Ioan Lloyd and Callum Sheedy are the other options.

Likely selection: Dan Edwards

Scrum-half
If Tomos Williams is fit he wears the number nine shirt and is one of the first names on the team sheet.

Williams enjoyed a sensational first season with Gloucester and impressed for the Lions before suffering a tour-ending injury against the Western Force.

But there is a big drop off from Williams to second and third choice.

Kieran Hardy is probably the second cab off the rank and he did enjoy a strong second-half of the 2024/25 season for the Ospreys.

But Reuben Morgan-Williams performed well as a replacement in the second Test victory in Japan and has been a consistent performer at club level for the Ospreys for quite some time.

Cardiff's Ellis Bevan, the Dragons' Rhodri Williams and Scarlets man Dane Blacker are other options.

Likely selection: Tomos Williams

No 8
Wales lack big explosive ball carriers who can run into heavy traffic yet still make significant metres.

At 34 Taulupe Faletau is at the end of his career and Tandy needs to find his long-term replacement, although when fully fit the likelihood is he will still start.

Aaron Wainwright has done a credible job at No 8 and has performed well in some extremely poor team performances.

Taine Plumtree has played well at No 8 for the Scarlets but at Test level he is a blindside flanker.

Morgan Morse is arguably the best forward prospect in Welsh rugby and should be strongly considered for a place in Tandy's squad this autumn while it will be interesting to see if Tandy gives his Ospreys teammate Morgan Morris a chance.

One man who Tandy needs to get on the phone to is Exeter Chiefs and England U20s No 8 Kane James.

The 20-year-old was born in Wales and looks destined to become a future star on the international stage, hopefully in the red of Wales.

Likely selection: Taulupe Faletau


Flankers
After his exploits with the Lions in Australia this summer Jac Morgan starts, no questions asked. Alongside Rees-Zammit he is one of Wales' two genuine rugby superstars.

He could also play blindside to accommodate the likes of Tommy Reffell or Josh Macleod if Wales want to really attack the breakdown.

But there is a better balance in the backrow with a bigger, more abrasive blindside flanker like Aaron Wainwright or the returning Ross Moriarty.

The 31-year-old Moriarty's return to Wales with the Ospreys is an interesting move because he is exactly the type of no-nonsense and abrasive blindside that has been missed.

Taine Plumtree is another potential option and Tandy could also look at Gloucester's Freddie Thomas as a blindside.

Like selections: Aaron Wainwright and Jac Morgan

Second-rows
Wales have been found wanting up-front over the past couple of seasons.

It would be a surprise if Tandy did not bring the highly experienced Adam Beard straight back into the squad after the 29-year-old missed the summer tour.

Beard has left the Ospreys for French giants Montpellier, with his size and experience making him a likely pick.

Dafydd Jenkins will almost certainly come straight back into the squad after injury cost the Exeter Chiefs man a place on the summer tour.

Teddy Thomas is another option but is a different type of lock to Beard and Jenkins with athleticism his point of difference. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.

Will Rowlands is still an option while Freddie Thomas, Ben Carter, Rhys Davies, James Fender and even the returning Jake Ball are also in the mix.

Exeter Chiefs' Christ Tshiunza will also be desperate to force his way back into the international reckoning after falling out of the Wales squad last season.

Likely selections: Dafydd Jenkins and Adam Beard

Front-row
The loosehead prop berth is realistically a fight between Gareth Thomas and Nicky Smith.

Kemsley Mathias was a regular in Gatland's squads but wasn't included for the summer tour, with Sherratt preferring uncapped Ospreys man Garyn Phillips.

Tighthead has been a major Achilles heel for Wales since Tomas Francis stepped away after signing for French outfit Provence.

Archie Griffin is a serious player around the park but his scrummaging remains a work in progress.

The experienced former England prop Henry Thomas might be Wales' best bet for now.

Thomas did a good job for the Scarlets last season, especially at the set-piece, and Wales really need somebody to anchor the scrum.

Keiron Assiratti is a good scrummager but doesn't offer as much around the park as the likes of Griffin, while Chris Coleman won his first cap in Japan this summer.

When it comes to hooker, a fully-fit Dewi Lake is the clear first choice with his leadership, powerful carrying game and his effectiveness at the breakdown standing out.


Experienced Dragons hooker Elliot Dee arguably has the straightest darts of all the Welsh hookers, while Ryan Elias will be desperate to regain his place.

Cardiff pair Liam Belcher and Evan Lloyd are also contenders along with Dragons youngster Brodie Coghlan.

Likely selection: Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake and Archie Griffin.

[Sandydragon]

We’re definitely under dogs. How we will play under Tandynis an unknown and perhaps we can cause a few headaches while others try to work us out.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Much of selection will be based on form from the opening rounds of the United Rugby Championship and English Premiership.

Tough news for the Ospreys, facing a fortnight in South Africa in the company of the Bulls and Stormers.

On the other hand, Tandy's an Osprey .


It will be fascinating to find out what he thinks and if he has any radically different views to what has come before. Centre is such a tough call - so many options, no one remotely nailing down a shirt.

[Sandydragon]

Much of selection will be based on form from the opening rounds of the United Rugby Championship and English Premiership.

Tough news for the Ospreys, facing a fortnight in South Africa in the company of the Bulls and Stormers.

On the other hand, Tandy's an Osprey .


It will be fascinating to find out what he thinks and if he has any radically different views to what has come before. Centre is such a tough call - so many options, no one remotely nailing down a shirt.

We’ve got a bunch of centres with promise, but none who have really stood up yet.

[Numbers]

It'll be interesting to see if he goes with a second playmaker like we did all last year, there is something to be said for having some size tho, not many other teams have playmaking 12s these days. I suppose that may well come down to whether Sharratt is appointed backs coach.