Wales will face the Barbarians in an uncapped match in London on Saturday, a key preparation fixture ahead of their Test against Fiji next month. After breaking a three-year Six Nations drought with a victory over Italy in the final round, head coach Steve Tandy hopes to build momentum and secure more consistent results.
Wales' Recent Struggles and Hope for Improvement
The World Cup pool stages in 2023, held in Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon and Nantes, now seem like a distant memory as Wales have become accustomed to losing more often than not. However, the win against Italy provided a glimmer of hope, and Tandy is keen to turn that into a sustained run of form.
Focus on Fiji as Key Target
While the Barbarians fixture is uncapped and carries no official weight, Wales are using it to fine-tune their squad for the upcoming Test against Fiji at Cardiff City Stadium. Fiji are seen as Wales' best chance of a victory this summer, with subsequent trips to Argentina and South Africa posing tougher challenges. Even the most optimistic fan would not expect wins in those matches, but Fiji on home soil is a realistic target, despite the Pacific Islanders winning on their last visit to Cardiff two years ago.
Team Selection and Changes
Tandy has largely stuck with the side that finished the Six Nations, with minimal changes for the sake of continuity. However, English-based players such as Rhys Carre, Nicky Smith, Dafydd Jenkins, Olly Cracknell, Tomos Williams and Louis Rees-Zammit are unavailable due to late camp arrivals. Alex Mann and James Botham also miss out, with Mann absent from a Wales matchday squad for the first time under Tandy.
Tom Rogers earns his first start since scoring a hat-trick against New Zealand, and the Osprey-bound 27-year-old could cement a starting place in the back-three. Blair Murray takes the full-back role, with the elusive Murray potentially reclaiming the jersey permanently given Rees-Zammit is now used as a winger by Bristol. The Barbarians' fast and loose style should suit Murray.
Midfield and Forwards
Joe Hawkins and Eddie James are trusted again in midfield, with Bryn Bradley and Max Llewellyn likely to be introduced later in the campaign. Hawkins and James are expected to start against Fiji barring any disasters. Jac Morgan and Teddy Williams return from injury, while Dillon Lewis starts as Wales' most experienced tighthead despite a two-year international absence.
Bench Selections and Debutants
The bench offers interesting choices. Injuries to Keiron Assiratti and Liam Belcher have simplified decisions at tighthead and hooker, but loosehead remains competitive, with debutant Rhys Barratt needing a standout performance to leapfrog Carre, Smith or Gareth Thomas. Other debutants like Ben Warren and Ryan Woodman are well-placed to feature in the Nations Championship. Harrison Keddie, a surprise call-up, has a chance to impress before the likes of Mann, Botham, Cracknell and Tommy Reffell return. Reuben Morgan-Williams appears set to be the third-choice scrum-half ahead of recalled Ellis Bevan, offering the Osprey halfback more opportunities.
Looking Ahead
Wales will hope the Barbarians match provides the ideal preparation for Fiji, with Tandy aiming to build fluency and confidence. The Nations Championship fixtures later this summer will test the squad's depth, but for now, the focus is on Saturday's performance.
