Wales desperately need fresh blood and England fixture might just provide solutions

Wales Online

4 days ago

Wales desperately need fresh blood and England fixture might just provide solutions
Wales have a number of positions in need of quality
Harry Rees-Weldon of Wales scores the crucial try
(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd )
You don't need to be a rocket scientist to work out Wales desperately need fresh blood after losing a record 17 Test matches in a row.
There are a number of positions where Wales need to find some quality and strength in depth for the 2027 and 2031 Rugby World Cups. Warren Gatland's long-term successor has a big job on his hands, turning around a rugby nation which is currently on its knees.
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Working with the pathway to produce more and better players will be essential if Wales are to get back to competing with the best teams in the world. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
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This summer will give supporters a snapshot of the future. A week Friday Wales U20s will face England U20s at Pontypool Park in preparation for the U20s World Cup later this summer.
Here are the players capable of solving Welsh rugby's problem positions over the next few years.
Tighthead prop
Tighthead prop is a position where Wales have struggled to find depth for the majority of the professional era.
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Tomas Francis' decision to step away from international rugby after embarking on a new challenge with French club Provence Rugby wasn't ideal for Wales, although the 33-year-old has previously said he could make himself available for the World Cup in 2027.
Archie Griffin looks a fine prospect and if he stays injury-free will be an asset for Wales while Keiron Assiratti, Chris Coleman and Ben Warren are also in the mix.
But Bristol Bears tighthead prop Sam Scott could be the answer in the long run. Gatland considered taking Scott on the senior tour of Australia last summer and while it was too early for him the general consensus is Scott will develop into an international player of some repute.
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The 19-year-old is an excellent scrummager who is technically very good, while he is also extremely dynamic around the park with his carrying, defensive prowess and effectiveness at the breakdown.
"I love that boy. When he came in he had his big glasses and the big eyes but he's fitted into the culture," Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam told WalesOnline.
"The boys love him. He's such a good kid first and foremost but then I saw the size of his legs.
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"He's got massive calves and I thought this kid is built for tighthead prop.
"I remember one time he got absolutely smashed by Ellis Genge. He took him out and he went down and I thought 'oooh!'
"I then looked up and he got straight back up and went again. I thought 'this kid is tough too'.
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"He's learnt a lot. Scrummaging against Ellis Genge, Thomas and Jake Woolmore who are big lads and very experienced.
"They have been making him even better. He's played 25 games because we've had him play with the Hornets and the U20s.
"He's training week in week out with our senior guys, so I'm seeing his development. He's going to be a great prospect moving forward."
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Second-row
One area where Wales have been found badly wanting over the past 18 months or so is in the front-five.
Wales does not have enough carriers who are able to carry the ball into heavy traffic and make significant post-contact metres.
They do not have anywhere near enough explosive carriers in comparison to the stronger packs in world rugby and this is a problem because Wales have been forced to play on the back foot too much of late.
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The likes of Teddy Williams and Freddie Thomas are good athletic players while Adam Beard adds some physicality and lineout expertise, but Wales lack the more old fashioned second-row who can truck it up the middle to make yards.
Dafydd Jenkins is an outstanding player who really excels in the physical stakes but Wales need more players in the mould of the Exeter Chiefs lock.
The experienced Will Rowlands, who has been left out of the summer squad, is a powerful carrier but he has not been at his best this season and at 33 is approaching the end of his career.
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Jake Ball could also come back into the frame in the short-term having decided to come out of retirement to sign for the Scarlets. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
But there are players within the pathway who have size, power and athleticism who have the potential to physically dominate their opponents.
One such player is Exeter Chiefs second-row Luke Evans who should figure against England and has the potential to play a prominent role at the U20s World Cup this summer.
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The Welsh Rugby Union saw it as an enormous coup when they persuaded the 18-year-old to change his allegiance after representing England at U18s level.
At 6ft 8in Evans has the size to make a real impact and is the exact profile of a second-row which is in short supply in Wales.
Evans is an excellent lineout forward and a powerful carrier, while his work rate and physicality in defence is also a positive aspect of his game.
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There is also Will Evans who is an old fashioned second-row in that he does the unseen dirty work which allows others to do their jobs more effectively.
Evans is 6ft 6in and 18st 5lbs, with the Llandovery and Scarlets lock being a very powerful carrier with an edge.
There is also Tom Cottle who has signed for Cardiff from RGC ahead of the 2025/26 season. Cottle is another no-nonsense second-row who rarely comes off second best in the physical confrontations and is a strong carrier.
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Wales will go through some pain up-front for now but in the long-run the likes of both Evans' and Cottle could really strengthen things at lock.
No 8
Wales need to find Taulupe Faletau's long-term replacement and while Aaron Wainwright is a top-class player many would argue the Dragons star is better suited to blindside flanker at Test level, as is the Scarlets' Taine Plumtree.
The clear answer at No 8 in the long-run is Morgan Morse which makes the decision not to include the Ospreys man in either senior squad to tour Japan or in the U20s a real head-scratcher.
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Morse has all the attributes needed to develop into a high-end international-class player and may even become a British & Irish Lion in the future.
There is likely to be another future Wales international playing at Pontypool Park a week on Friday but he will be wearing white.
England U20s backrower Kane James also qualifies for New Zealand and Wales. James is a target of the WRU's and just like Morse is a player destined for a big future.
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Wales really need to look at capping James over the next couple of seasons if he is willing while one would assume Morse will win his first cap in the very near future.
Half-back
Wales really need to find some depth at scrum-half because there is arguably a big drop off from Tomos Williams to the rest.
Kieran Hardy is playing some good rugby and needs a good tour to Japan, while Reuben Morgan-Williams has been in top form for the Ospreys.
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One prominent figure in Welsh rugby recently told this writer he has some serious concerns about the quality and the style of number nines coming through the pathway.
He was of the opinion that Wales has some solid nines who are able to do the basics well but the X-factor and attacking intent seen in the likes of Williams and Gareth Davies in recent years is no longer present in most aspiring young nines.
Bath number nine Ieuan Davies, who figured prominently for Wales U20s last season, is someone to keep an eye on, as is Che Hope at the Dragons.
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As far as this summer is concerned Wales will want to see Logan Franklin really kick on. Wales have gone through some pain at outside-half but there are some very talented players within the pathway.
At senior level Sam Costelow and Dan Edwards should continue to improve but there's also reasons to be excited by who is coming up behind them.
Harri Wilde was outstanding in Wales U20s' famous victory over England U20s in March, while Harri Ford is also a capable player.
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But the likes of teenage outside-half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones who has been named in the Wales U20s training squad is a serious prospect, as is Harlequins playmaker Math Jones.
Wing
There is talent out wide with the likes of Ellie Mee and Macs Page but Wales could really do with adding some extra depth in this area.
One player who those within the upper echelons of the WRU are getting excited about is Dragons wing Harry Rees-Weldon.
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He is known for his strength and finishing ability, is highly regarded within the Wales U20s camp. "A few people have said I've got a similar running and playing style to George North," the 6ft 1in and 100kg wing told WalesOnline in March.
‌"I think he's one player I look up to and would love to be as honoured as he is. I'm quite an explosive winger so I run as fast as I can and I don't slow down before contact.
"I've got pretty good feet so I think I'm quite dangerous. I'm big, strong and fast but on the other side of that my kick chase is one of my strongest points as a player, especially my aerial work."
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He will be a big player for Wales U20s this summer. Another one to watch out for is Bristol Bears wing Aidan Boshoff.
"He was still at school last year but we put him in a Premiership Cup game because he chases hard at everything, he's a work horse and he's a fighter," Lam told WalesOnline.
"He's a competitor. He's someone who is exciting. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.
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"I've had to talk to him about being a bit smart at times. Sometimes you don't have to run all the way there and all the way back.
"The boys know I have a favourite catch phrase that "good players play the game, great players know the game. It's about understanding that.
"If you told him to keep running he'd keep running. He's an exciting prospect."
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There is also Tom Bowen who has already figured heavily for Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship.