Wales opt for centre power pair against Japan

Published8 hours ago

Wales head coach Steve Tandy has opted for power in his centre partnership by bringing in Max Llewellyn alongside Eddie James for the Nations Championship opener against Japan on Saturday (16:40 GMT).

Llewellyn, 6ft 6in (1.96m) and 16st 12lbs (107kg) and James, 6ft 4in (1.90m) and 16st 3lbs (103kg), will form one of Wales' biggest midfield combinations.

Tandy has abandoned his policy of selecting a more recognised ball-player at inside centre with Llewellyn named in the 12 jersey.

Fly-half Sam Costelow is preferred to Dan Edwards, while wings Josh Adams and Louis Rees-Zammit and full-back Blair Murray form the back three.

Props Nicky Smith and Archie Griffin start alongside captain Dewi Lake, while Dafydd Jenkins has shaken off a knee injury to resume his Six Nations partnership with Ben Carter. Alex Mann, Jac Morgan and Aaron Wainwright form the back row.

Tandy has made seven personnel changes from the side that lost 43-0 against South Africa in July.

Nine of the 15 starters against Japan, including six of the eight forwards, and 12 of the 23-strong squad, play club rugby in England.

There are three Scarlets players, two from Cardiff, one Dragon and no Ospreys, although half-backs Edwards and Reuben Morgan-Williams have been named as replacements.

"There's lots of competition for positions within the squad, which is where we want to be," said Tandy.

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Wales change centre combinations again

This will be Tandy's sixth different centre partnership in his 13th international in charge, with Joe Hawkins or Ben Thomas having being given the number 12 jersey in the previous 12 internationals.

Thomas and Llewellyn were the Wales duo that started against South Africa in July.

Thomas is missing because of a calf injury while Hawkins has been left out of the 23-strong squad for the autumn games.

Llewellyn played most of his early senior rugby for Cardiff at inside centre before leaving for Gloucester, where he has played more at outside centre alongside England midfield-man Seb Atkinson at Kingsholm.

Before the start of the season, Llewellyn told BBC Sport Wales inside centre was his preferred position.

He has only worn the number 12 shirt for Gloucester on one occasion this season, and started just once at inside centre for Wales in a World Cup warm-up game against England in August 2023.

James has also came though the Scarlets as a more natural 12 but Tandy says he sees the Wales future of the 24-year-old from Carmarthen at 13.

"We're excited to see the pairing," said Tandy.

"We've had a couple of training sessions together, and it's been really good to watch.

"There's strong competition, and you can't overlook Max's form since returning.

"He also had a run at number 12 against Bath, His defensive performances have been excellent, but he can also play with the ball.

"He's played at inside centre regularly for Cardiff, so we're confident he can deliver what we're looking for.

"So we're looking forward to seeing what the partnership can produce."

Wales return to Nations Championship action

Wales started the Nations Championship campaign in July with a victory against Fiji before defeats against Argentina and South Africa.

After resuming the campaign against Japan, Wales will host New Zealand and Australia in successive Saturdays before travelling to the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham on the final weekend of November to face yet unknown opposition in the play-off games.

"We're excited to be to back at home," said Tandy.

"We want to go out there on Saturday, put our mark on the match and start the next phase in our Nations Championship campaign strongly."

Wales and Japan both currently lie fifth in their respective hemisphere tables.

In July, Japan beat Italy but lost to Ireland and France in the opening three games of the tournament.

Wales team to face Japan

Wales: Murray; Rees-Zammit, James, Llewellyn, Adams; Costelow, Tomos Williams; Smith, Lake (capt), Griffin, Jenkins, Carter, Mann, Morgan, Wainwright.

Replacements: Elias, Carre, Francis, Teddy Williams, Botham, Morgan-Williams, D Edwards, Hennessey.

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