The likely Wales starting team for the Six Nations that looks much stronger

December 20, 2024

-Credit:Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd

Everyone associated with Welsh rugby will be glad to see the back of 2024 which has been a miserable year for the game in Wales.

The men’s national side failed to win a single Test match with their 12-match losing run the worst in Wales’ history. As a result there is huge pressure on Wales to turn it around during the Six Nations in order to put some credibility back into the red shirt.

Wales are likely to be strengthened by a handful of experienced players who have been missing in recent times due to injury. Rugby correspondent Steffan Thomas picks the Wales side most like to take the field for the Six Nations opener at the Stade de France next month.

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15. Liam Williams

The 33-year-old’s return to Saracens means he will be available for the Six Nations which would not have been the case if he had remained in Japan. Williams is at the tail end of his career but he remains the best option at full-back when fully fit.

Cameron Winnett has done a sterling job in Williams’ absence but the former Scarlets and Cardiff stars experience swings it in his favour.

14. Josh Adams

It goes without saying a fully fit and firing Adams will be a huge asset to Wales. The 29-year-old played through injury during last year’s Six Nations which meant he wasn’t at his best, while he was absent for Wales’ summer tour and the Autumn Nations Series.

Adams has looked very sharp since returning from injury and was the official player of the match in Cardiff’s bonus point victory over the Cheetahs last Saturday. His finishing prowess, aerial ability, defensive solidity and his general work rate makes Adams a necessity.

13. Max Llewellyn

Llewellyn has been playing well for Gloucester in the Gallagher Premiership and didn’t let Wales down in the autumn despite results not going their way. Wales have yet to find the optimum midfield partnership but Llewellyn does have the tools required.

He has the size to make significant post-contact metres and is an intelligent footballer. The former Cardiff centre deserves another opportunity during the Six Nations.

12. Ben Thomas

The 26-year-old has shown glimpses of what he is capable of on the international stage but there is far more to come from the Cardiff midfielder. Thomas is a talented footballer with a wide skillset who has the vision to spot opportunities and bring others into the game.

His versatility makes him a must for the squad and his partnership with Llewellyn deserves an opportunity to grow next year.

11. Tom Rogers

The 26-year-old was Wales’ best player in the heavy 52-20 defeat to Australia this autumn. Rogers is brave under the high ball, while he put in an outstanding try-saving tackle on Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi.

The Scarlets man is also a very dangerous broken field runner and if given the platform could develop into a good international player for Wales. Mason Grady is also a potential option but the Cardiff man faces a race against time to prove his fitness for the Six Nations opener against France having recently undergone ankle surgery.

Dragons wing Rio Dyer and Scarlets livewire Blair Murray are other potential options.

10. Gareth Anscombe

Wales will feel they need experience within the half-backs if they are to get back to winning ways in the new year. Anscombe may not be the attacking threat he once was but the 33-year-old still knows how to run a game at Test level.

Recent Wales squads have lacked experience and that is something the Gloucester playmaker has by the bucket-load.

9. Tomos Williams

If Andy Farrell named his British & Irish Lions squad to tour Australia tomorrow Williams would likely be one of only three Welsh players named. The 29-year-old has been in electric form for Gloucester since leaving Cardiff and is a huge threat around the fringes.

On paper a half-back partnership of Williams and Anscombe looks strong but the Wales management would have been disappointed with some of Williams’ decision making in the defeat to Fiji. There will be a big onus on Williams to be at his best during the Six Nations.

8. Taulupe Faletau

The experienced No 8 returned from a long injury lay off to start Cardiff’s victory over the Cheetahs last weekend. Faletau is undoubtedly Wales’ finest No 8 of the professional era and at his best is among the best backrowers in the world game.

But he is approaching the end of his career and the 34-year-old has picked up a number of serious injuries over the last couple of years. But even so Wales are likely to put their faith in Faletau once more and will hope his class and experience shines through.

7. Jac Morgan

The 24-year-old is one of the first names on the Wales team sheet and is an integral part of this Wales side. Morgan was one of the only players to finish a disastrous Autumn Nations Series with any credit in the bank.

His leadership, work rate, physicality, explosive carrying and excellence at the breakdown are a big asset to Wales. If he can replicate his recent form during the Six Nations then a place on the Lions tour of Australia will surely beckon for the man from the Amman Valley.

6. Aaron Wainwright

Wainwright has been playing the majority of his rugby at No 8 but with Faletau back Gatland may well move him back to the blindside. The Dragons star has been outstanding for Wales over the past year and is a dark horse for a place on the Lions tour.

A backrow of Wainwright, Morgan and Faletau is the most well-balanced loose forward trio Wales can field. All three worked very well in tandem during the Rugby World Cup and if Faletau had been fit the quarter-final loss to Argentina things could have been very different for Wales.

5. Dafydd Jenkins

The 22-year-old missed Wales’ autumn campaign after undergoing surgery on his knee and shoulder but has returned to action for Exeter Chiefs. Jenkins captained Wales during last season’s Six Nations and even though it wasn’t a successful campaign the man from Porthcawl was one of the few success stories.

Jenkins is a natural leader, an excellent lineout forward and very physical with a huge work rate. He is likely to be a big part of Wales’ plans over the next decade.

4. Will Rowlands

The 33-year-old has been excellent for the most part since making his Wales debut in 2020 but was out of sorts over the autumn. With Adam Beard a major doubt for the start of the Championship Wales really need Rowlands to be at the peak of his powers.

The Racing 92 star is a powerful carrier who very rarely comes off second best in the collisions, has a huge work rate and is strong in defence.

3. Keiron Assiratti

Wales’ first choice tighthead during the autumn, Archie Griffin, has recently undergone surgery on his shoulder meaning he is a big doubt for the Six Nations. If he is ruled out Assiratti and Scarlets tighthead Henry Thomas are the next cabs off the rank.

Thomas is a decent scrummager but there are some within the game who believe he needs to offer more around the park. Assiratti also has his work ons but the 27-year-old is probably the slight favourite to wear the number three shirt against France in Paris.

2. Dewi Lake (Captain)

Lake is potentially a doubt to be fit for the start of the Six Nations after injuring his bicep which will keep him out of Saturday’s west Wales derby against the Scarlets. That would be a savage blow for Wales because the 25-year-old was one of the only forwards in the autumn squad who was capable of winning the collisions and making post contact metres.

He is also an inspirational captain who has the ability to lift those around him. Let’s hope the Ospreys star is fit to wear the number two shirt against France in Paris on January 31.

1. Gareth Thomas

Wales may have struggled in recent times but Thomas has been one of the better players. The 31-year-old is a powerful scrummager who brings a huge amount of physicality while he is also relentless in defence.

Wales legend Jamie Roberts recently identified Thomas as a dark horse to tour with the Lions next summer. “I think he’s destructive,” Roberts told WalesOnline. “He’s good in the set-piece and around the park.

“Maybe his name hasn’t been chucked around in a Lions conversation too much but I know how good a player he is. He’s an impressive all-round player and he’s been a bit of a mainstay in that Wales side over the past few seasons.

“He’s one of our best players. If he goes well this season I’ve no doubt he’ll be in the conversation.”

Replacements

16. Ryan Elias

With Elliot Dee having recently returned from injury Elias will come under pressure for his place on the bench. But his size and power will probably swing it the way of the Scarlets man.

17. Nicky Smith

The 30-year-old has been arguably the best loosehead prop in the Gallagher Premiership this season. The Leicester Tigers star is a destructive scrummager who is also adept at winning turnovers at the breakdown.

18. Henry Thomas

The former England prop has been a strong acquisition for the Scarlets and is a powerful scrummager. It’s a close call between Thomas and Assiratti for the starting berth if Griffin is absent as expected.

19. Freddie Thomas

The 23-year-old won his first Wales cap against South Africa last month and has been outstanding for Gloucester this season. Thomas is a real grafter who likes to get stuck in but is also very explosive and athletic.

20. James Botham

It was a dour autumn for Wales but the Cardiff man was impressive from an individual standpoint. The 26-year-old is a very physical player who is very dynamic with a carrying game.

He is also effective at the breakdown and his versatility could edge out Tommy Reffell for a place on the bench.

21. Ellis Bevan

Bevan has been reliable for Wales since making his debut against South Africa at Twickenham this summer. Wales are likely to continue showing faith in the Cardiff scrum-half.

22. Sam Costelow

The Scarlets playmaker has come in for some rough criticism from Wales fans but he is highly regarded by the coaches who are adamant he has a big future. Costelow has the raw minerals to make it at this level but Wales fans need to be patient.