Matt Sherratt’s biggest challenges when picking his best Wales XV for the Summer Tour

Unlike the Six Nations where the Cardiff Rugby boss adopted the interim role, the 33-man squad that he named last Tuesday, is his own. He will be able to implement his own plans and style on how he wants to play the game in the lead up to the tour in the Far East and this time around it doesn’t have to be rushed.

With only two players named in this years British and Irish Lions Tour of Australia, this will be unlike any previous tours which coincided with the Lions Series’ as Sherratt has gone for all the experience he has on offer. Only naming six uncapped players in Chris Coleman, Macs Page, Liam Belcher, Keelan Giles, Reuben Morgan-Williams and Garyn Phillips, perhaps shows the intent and mindset of Sherratt and his back room staff ahead of a huge summer for Welsh Rugby.

In normal circumstances this summer tour of Japan for Wales would be for blooding new stars of the future by giving them their first taste of international rugby but those circumstances that Welsh fans have been accustomed to are now a long distant memory.

When you look at other head coaches ahead of their respective summer tours, England boss Steve Borthwick has named a squad which includes 14 mainly young uncapped players. This is albeit that the Red Rose head coach is without 13 crucial players, who are on Lions tour duty down under.

Wales last tasted victory against Georgia at the Rugby World Cup in 2023, and whilst being on a run of 17-consecutive Test match defeats they’ve also slipped to a record low of 12th in the World rankings. Below them following closely Eddie Jones’ Japan side, who will be fancying their chances in the sweltering heat that is expected in both Kitakyushu and Kobe where the pair will meet.

There’s one challenge, putting an end to their horror streak of losses but also continuing this streak could affect Wales at the next Rugby World Cup. Defeats this summer would impact their already bruised World Cup seeding position as they will drop into a group which will include three other tier one nations.

Whilst facing a Japan side not of the same level of whom put aside South Africa in 2015 or reaching the knockout stages of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, they will however keep Sherratt’s men honest.

After leaving no stone unturned, Sherratt named a 33-man squad that ticks almost every box. However, with that comes dilemmas when it comes to making the correct selection. He talked a lot last week at a press conference about the developmental side of the game not being in his thought process, in other words this Summer it’s all about winning.

But there are tough calls to be made, especially with Japan not being the biggest of oppositions and this needs to be an area of attack for Wales.

So with the return of Scarlets’ Johnny Williams and his big ball carrying capabilities, with his involvement this could be a game changer. Sherratt also talked a lot about continuity in the squad and with fellow club teammate Joe Roberts maybe wearing the thirteen jersey this is certainly a centre pairing that the Brave Blossoms would not want to face.

Another area that Wales will need to be strong around is the breakdown, and with Jac Morgan absent due to his Lions call-up, the back row forward area of the game is likely to be hotly contested.

Japan who will be used to the conditions will be expecting to play a fast paced style of rugby, and it will be down to the likes of Tommy Reffell and Josh Macleod to slow their attack down. Don’t forget in an area so highly competitive both Aaron Wainwright and Taulupe Faletau will also be playing huge parts as from a cohesion point of view maybe having Scarlets’ Macleod on the bench, would be beneficial.

Another challenge when it comes to selection for Sherratt is who is going to take over the helm at nine. Gloucester Rugby’s, Tomos Williams is out of contention through Lions tour selection, and this hands an opportunity to Kieran Hardy who hasn’t been on the international stage for a while. Playing the best rugby of his life with the Ospreys, scrum-half Hardy will also have one eye on that starting jersey when it comes to the Autumn as well.

Interestingly, Dragons RFC’s Chris Coleman was named in the squad after Adam Jones had a big say on his inclusion. Fitness is of concern for Coleman who has been one of a few standouts in the Dragons’ dismal season in the United Rugby Championship but has been identified as “one for the future” by Sherratt.

Experienced Tomos Francis has talked about maybe making a return to international rugby in the future, but since his departure to Pro D2 side Provence Rugby no one’s really made a name for themselves at tight-head.

Recent times WillGriff John, Henry Thomas, Archie Griffin and Keiron Assiratti, have all worn the 3 jersey but in those appearances no one has made a dominate impact.

Despite all these challenges when it comes to selection, one thing is for certain whatever starting XV Matt Sherratt names for the opening test on July 5th, they have to win otherwise Wales will break even more records.