Apex Scores Lite Apex Scores Lite flag
back Back
Wales team announcement live updates as big calls made for Japan

Steve Tandy is set to make major changes to his Wales team to face Japan, with big calls expected at fly-half, in midfield and across the pack

Wales head coach Steve Tandy

If that expected midfield selection is confirmed at 9am, it really is an interesting one. Many pundits have been calling for Wales to play with a more powerful 12 after the likes of Ben Thomas and Joe Hawkins have struggled to make an impact as "ball players".

We may also see some interchanging when the game actually starts.

Llewellyn has limited experience at inside centre for Wales, having started there just once before against England in a World Cup warm-up at the Principality Stadium in 2023.

Max Llewellyn in action for Wales against Fiji in 2024

James has played more consistently at 12 for the Scarlets, but Tandy prefers him as an outside centre.

"I see Eddie more as a 13. He can definitely play 12, as we have seen for the Scarlets, but in our team he is more of a 13 who can play 12," Tandy told the ScrumV podcast a couple of weeks ago.

"Louie Hennessey, Max Llewellyn and Eddie, they have big frames and there is lot of interchangeability for the 12s and 13s. We have a nice variety of options there."