Wales vs Japan: Steve Tandy’s sies have no margin for error with rankings on the line

Some feel Ben Thomas was fortunate to avoid suspension after kicking out when held off the ball by Argentina flanker Pablo Matera last Sunday.

A yellow card was deemed to be sufficient because the TMO could find no evidence of the centre making contact.

Thomas was a key man at Cardiff under Wales attack coach Matt Sherratt and was at the heart of plenty of promising moments with ball in hand against the Pumas.

He now has competition from Joe Hawkins, now with Scarlets after a spell at Exeter led to his international career being put on hold.

The pair have similar dimensions – 6ft and around 15st – and the option of playing both is impacted by the need to give the diminutive Dan Edwards a proper crack at fly-half.

Thomas has won 15 caps and starts his 14th straight Test alongside Max Llewellyn.

“Ben is a quality player and that’s the way we want to play, having that second pair of hands,” said Tandy. “The vision helps Dan in how we want to play.

“Ben has played consistently well for Cardiff, has done really, really well for Wales and there was a lot of interaction between 10 and 12, and with [scrum-half] Tomos Williams as well. There was lots of positivity.”

The retention of Blair Murray, one of Wales’ bright sparks in a nightmare 2024-25, at full-back was another big talking point from the selection after Argentina ruled the air.

“A few months ago people were talking about him as a potential British and Irish Lions full-back,” said Sherratt about the 5ft 8in Scarlets back.

“He is so dangerous in broken field and is an instinctive player, so when he is back to winning the air he will show what he has got with his running game.”