Steve Tandy Explains BOLD Decision to Bench Louis Rees-Zammit: 5 Talking Points

Wing Louis Rees-Zammit has dropped onto the bench, with Scarlets’ Ellis Mee replacing him and joins Josh Adams and Blair Murray in the back-three.

The 25-year-old returned to the wing in Wales’ opening Nations Championship match against Fiji, following starting all of Wales’ Six Nations matches at fullback.

The Bristol Bears player, as he did on his international return in the autumn against Los Pumas, is picked on the bench, as Mee earns his tenth cap.

Head coach Tandy will be hoping Rees-Zammit can make a major impact off the bench, as his side come into the contest winning successive Test matches for the first time since the 2023 World Cup.

“I thought Ellis played well,” explained Tandy on his reasoning for selecting the winger ahead of Rees-Zammit. “He was fantastic against Italy.

One major talking point from Tandy’s team announcement was that Scarlets’ Sam Costelow will be starting his first Wales game since facing Scotland in the Six Nations.

In fact, the Parc y Scarlets side has provided five of the seven backline players, with Joe Hawkins and Eddie James named in the centres. The only two non-Scarlets players in Tandy’s backline are Saracens’ Tomos Williams and Cardiff’s Adams.

On selecting Costelow ahead of Dan Edwards, Tandy added: “It has been brilliant competition between them both.

Costelow returns to the starting XV following an impressive performance against Scotland, but the 25-year-old picked up an injury that saw Ospreys’ Dan Edwards selected for the remainder of the championship.

Edwards started in Tandy’s first six games in charge and has been dropped only once.

He responded well against both Ireland and Italy in the Six Nations, where he scored once and kicked 11 points from the tee, as Wales ended their losing streak with a 31-17 victory against the Azzurri.

Edwards endured a tough outing against Fiji last weekend, whilst Costelow impressed off the bench. However, Tandy has not selected Edwards on the bench and will have to rely on inside centre Hawkins to take the helm at outside-half if Costelow is injured.

“Joe has played a lot there for the Scarlets and has done a really good job,” said Tandy on Hawkins, who, following the Six Nations, started five consecutive games in the 10-jersey.

Kane James, who played for England U20s but was born in Haverfordwest and raised in Cardiff, is in line to win his first cap after a breakthrough season with Prem runners-up Exeter.

He played 18 times for the Gallagher PREM side and came on in the closing moments in the final at Twickenham against Northampton Saints.

Exeter's captain and Wales second-row, Dafydd Jenkins, who is out due to injury this summer, stated his excitement on his social media page by saying: “LFG.”

The 21-year-old was in contention for Wales’ 2026 Six Nations squad, but was not included due to an ankle injury he sustained against Cardiff in the EPCR Challenge Cup.

“I have met Kane a few times,” said Tandy. “The personality and the way he goes about the game is outstanding.

James Botham is named at blind-side, with Jac Morgan at open-side and Aaron Wainwright completing the back-row at No. 8.

Meanwhile, James is Tandy’s only out-and-out back-row option on the bench, with Taine Plumtree and Alex Mann rested from last weekend's match against Fiji.

Wales have begun their summer campaign with back-to-back victories against the Barbarians and Fiji, and have claimed two consecutive Test wins for the first time since the 2023 Rugby World Cup (against Australia and Georgia).

Tandy’s side knows what the challenge lies ahead despite Argentina beginning their inaugural Nations Championship with a 47-38 home defeat against Scotland. Following the loss, Felipe Contepomi has made five changes to his starting XV.

Boris Wenger, Tomas Rapetti, Marcos Kremer, Justo Piccardo, and Bautista Delguy have replaced Mayco Vivas, Pedro Delgado, Pablo Matera, Faustino Sanchez Valarola and Rodrigo Isgro, respectively, for the clash against Wales.

Los Pumas will have fond memories of facing Tandy’s side last November during the autumn internationals, as they claimed the spoils 52-28 in what was the 46-year-old’s first game in charge of Wales.

“They are a terrific team, huge depth,” Tandy continued. (Marcos) Kremer is back, and there is a 100-capper (Guido Petti becomes Argentina’s sixth player to win 100 caps); there will be a lot of passion.

But when Los Pumas face Wales, they do so on the back of a mini-revival: “Everyone is happier when they win, the sun comes out brighter,” Tandy added.

“It has not changed; it’s just about getting better. (Winning) does bring confidence, and from experiences of winning, it becomes more of a habit.

Wales last travelled to Argentina in 2018, when they faced Los Pumas in Santa Fe, producing a 30-12 win. Both wings that day, Hallam Amos and Adams, scored, and Rhys Patchell kicked 20 points as Wales claimed the spoils and left South America third in the world rankings.

The only negative to come from that contest was a late red card for Ross Moriarty, who had Nicolas Sanchez in a choke hold following an altercation. Adams is one of six players who have been selected by Tandy for Wales’ game in San Juan on Saturday. Adam Beard, Dillon Lewis, and Tomos Williams all start, whilst Ryan Elias and Nicky Smith are named on the bench.

Could Wales replicate its last win in Argentina again on Saturday? “For me, it’s never looking too far ahead,” continued Tandy.

Despite playing in Wales’ last tour just over eight years ago, Scarlets’ Elias has forced his way back up the pecking order and has been in fine form for both club and country in recent months, and richly deserves to reach half a century of appearances for his national side.

“Ryan’s story is an incredible one,” added Tandy.