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Have Wales got their midfield partnership right?
Wales head coach Steve Tandy has reverted to the Ben Thomas-Max Llewellyn midfield partnership for Saturday's Nations Championship match against South Africa in Durban, the same pairing he chose for his first two games in charge last November. This comes after the Joe Hawkins-Eddie James combination, which had held the starting spots for seven consecutive matches, struggled defensively during the tournament, with pundits questioning whether Wales are missing an opportunity to add more physicality against a powerful Springboks centre pairing.
Tandy has now used five different centre partnerships across his 12 games in charge, reflecting ongoing uncertainty over his best combination. Former Wales and Lions centre Jonathan Davies said the Hawkins-James pairing "hasn't fired as we hoped" after missed tackles and defensive gaps, with Wales conceding 38 clean breaks in the first two rounds of the Nations Championship against Fiji and Argentina. Davies suggested James could switch to fly-half's inside partner at 12 with Llewellyn adding bulk at 13, while former fly-half Gareth Anscombe noted Wales' attack, shaped by Matt Sherratt, is currently lacking go-forward ball and struggling to make ground centrally.
In short
- Wales recall Ben Thomas-Max Llewellyn midfield duo to face South Africa
- Fifth different centre pairing tried in Tandy's 12 games as coach
- Pundits say defence has leaked 38 clean breaks in two Nations Championship rounds
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The Hawkins-James pairing has clearly underperformed defensively, conceding 38 clean breaks in just two matches and being exposed by Fiji and Argentina. Reverting to the Thomas-Llewellyn combination, which adds physical bulk at centre thirteen, represents a necessary tactical adjustment to address Wales' vulnerability before facing South Africa's powerful midfield. When a partnership demonstrably fails defensively, changing it is the correct managerial response.
The case against
Wales' use of five different centre pairings across 12 matches reflects unhelpful instability that prevents partnerships from developing the chemistry and understanding essential for strong defence. The Hawkins-James pairing had earned seven consecutive starts and should not be abandoned after two poor performances; defensive systems require time to gel and improve. Reverting again merely perpetuates tactical tinkering that suggests uncertainty rather than addressing underlying issues.
Explained simply
Wales' rugby team has experienced defensive struggles during this season's Nations Championship, an international rugby tournament. The issues have focused on the centre partnership – the two players positioned in the middle of the field who are responsible for both defending against opposing attacks and creating attacking chances for their own team.
Head coach Steve Tandy has now used five different centre pairings since taking charge, suggesting difficulty in finding the best fit. One partnership that held the starting positions for seven consecutive matches recently showed defensive weaknesses against Fiji and Argentina, allowing their opponents numerous attacking opportunities.
Rugby commentators and former players continue to debate whether Wales would benefit from centres with greater physical strength to compete against stronger opposition, or whether the underlying issues relate to broader team tactics and strategy. This disagreement reflects the challenge Tandy faces in balancing the different qualities available within his squad.
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