Selection is subjective but there's a growing issue that simply doesn't seem to be getting fixed

To be fair to Sam Warburton and Dan Biggar, when men of that ilk talk, you should probably listen.

The pair have probably forgotten more about the Test game than most will ever learn, such is life at the highest level. So, even in the world of reactionary takes that always accompany a Wales international, when both say that Steve Tandy should resist making changes, there's probably some merit to that opinion.

Saturday's victory against Japan wasn't the statement performance that everyone was hoping for. That is, obviously, a little frustrating.

But already the baby has been thrown out with the bath water just a touch.

After a year of steady and slow growth, there was an expectation that Wales would suddenly move up the gears and swat aside Japan comfortably. After all, the time for excuses was apparently over.

The narrative last week felt to be changing slightly. Wales were setting their stall out ahead of the match.

Tandy has often been criticised for not coming out and openly stating what the exact objective are, in the simplest terms of wins or losses.

It's an odd criticism, in all honesty. For starters, 'We want to win this weekend' isn't the dynamite quote some think it is. But also, there is a sense that whatever Tandy says, he's going to get it in the neck for not being convincing enough with his assertion, or for being too modest with his expectations.

On the flipside, whatever Warren Gatland tended to say was usually taken as gospel. Tandy's words, for whatever reason, don't hold that same weight.

But, let's not forget he took over a side that had only just ended an 18-Test losing run, largely achieved on Gatland's watch. Wales are probably a better side than they were for much of that run under the Kiwi, but this is still a side that is still sitting comfortably around 10th in the world.

One that still remains a fair distance off the world's top eight. While the expectations had been raised a little last week, with Tandy almost lifting those himself for once, Wales were taking on a side this weekend that, ultimately, has beaten the same teams as them in the last year.

Italy and Fiji.

Perhaps, Wales aren't out as far out of the woods as everyone would hope. The top eight still feels somewhere over the horizon. And so, back to that original point by Warburton and Biggar, there's probably little point in making knee-jerk changes.

A lot of things didn't quite work against Japan, but, in some sense, is that surprising? The majority of the team were English-based, having had to go back for the latter half of the first training week.

Wales, under Tandy, have been typically slow starters to campaigns. Twas ever thus in fairness with Wales and the autumn.

But there's also little value in ripping things up ahead of the All Blacks and starting from scratch. Maybe switch the props around, if you like.

However, what point is there in making wholesale changes when building some continuity in this team seems important. That Australia match perhaps represents a top eight side that Wales could consider 'reachable' in terms of competing with.

That doesn't mean the selection shouldn't come under scrutiny. But deciding whether the new centre pairing of Max Llewellyn and Eddie James works or not based on the first 80 minutes seems rushed.

And prayers go out to anyone who dares stand on the Loughor Bridge and confidently shout out their selection at fly-half, such is that particular minefield between Scarlet Sam Costelow and Osprey Dan Edwards.

But if there is a genuine undercurrent of concern in terms of selection, then it's at scrum-half.

Not necessarily the fact that Tomos Williams is starting. Some online will fervently question whether his form deserves that honour, while others will point to the fact that, just over a year ago, he was a Lions tourist.

There's maybe a sense that he hasn't always delivered the eye-catching moments that he achieved at club level, but that's not always possible - with those moments perhaps leading to unfair expectations.

And it's hard to say Wales' game at the moment is built around him, either.

All of that is neither here or there, though. You're unlikely to convince people on either side of the argument.

Instead, the more concerning issue with that position is that, quite simply, there's almost no depth behind him.

That's not to say there aren't promising players there, but we simply don't know if they are ready for Test rugby.

Once again, Williams played the full 80 minutes on Saturday. That was the fifth time in 13 Tests under Tandy that the replacement scrum-half hasn't seen any action.

At a time when Wales need to be casting the net wider, they are only doubling down on the man in possession.

Kieran Hardy, Williams' most experienced deputy and the only other man to start a Test in the nine jersey in the last 19 Test matches, is set to be sidelined for some time.

It seems doubtful he'll make next year's World Cup, making the need to accelerate depth behind Williams all the more pressing.

Of the two other scrum-halves to wear the nine jersey in the last World Cup cycle, Gareth Davies retired from Test rugby two years ago and Ellis Bevan doesn't appear to be in the picture all that much when it comes to the national team.

There had been a clamour to bring Scarlets scrum-half Davies out of retirement for next year's World Cup. Granted, he's certainly got experience at the highest level in Test rugby, but he's not played in the international game for two years.

There's every chance this could be his last year for the Scarlets as well, seemingly winding down his remarkably long career, so dragging him back into the Test arena does seem a little far-fetched.

Of the two options in the Welsh squad, Reuben Morgan-Williams has just three caps to his name - playing 55 minutes of Test rugby to date - while Dragons' Che Hope is uncapped.

Throwing one of them in to start against the All Blacks next week would perhaps be a bit reckless, but surely they need significant minutes off the bench?

Is anyone really dreaming this is the year to end 73 years of hurt? Surely not.

So let's grow some depth while there's the chance. Because, if not, Wales remain just one injury away from heading down that well-known creek unequipped.