Wales rugby fans are reeling after a shocking squad shake-up by head coach Steve Tandy, leaving many to question the future of the team. Ben Thomas, a stalwart in the Welsh lineup, has been axed entirely from the matchday 23 for Sunday’s crucial clash against France. But here's where it gets controversial—is this a justified call for change, or a harsh overreaction to last weekend’s humiliating 48-7 defeat to England? Thomas, who has been a consistent presence in 16 of Wales’ last 17 Tests, found himself in hot water after a costly error against England. His poor pass, which hit the ground instead of a teammate, directly led to a try for the opposition. Yet, his omission, alongside starting openside Josh Macleod, has raised eyebrows. And this is the part most people miss—Tandy’s decision to drop Harri Deaves and Liam Belcher, who were replacements in the England match, further underscores the depth of this squad overhaul. The coach has opted for a 5-3 split on the bench, bringing in Olly Cracknell at No.8, shifting Aaron Wainwright to six, and Alex Mann to the openside. The second row remains unchanged, with Dafydd Jenkins and Adam Beard anchoring the scrum. Captain Dewi Lake starts at hooker, flanked by new props Rhys Carre and Tomas Francis, the latter making his first appearance since the 2023 Rugby World Cup. This move sees Nicky Smith and Archie Griffin relegated to the bench. In the backs, Joe Hawkins replaces Thomas at inside centre, partnering with Eddie James in midfield. The back-three remains intact, featuring Josh Adams, Ellis Mee, and Louis Rees-Zammit. On the bench, Ryan Elias takes over as hooker cover, and Jarrod Evans adds depth to the backs. But is this enough to turn Wales’ fortunes around against a formidable French side? With a head-to-head record showing five straight losses to France, averaging just 18 points per game compared to France’s 35, the odds are stacked against them. Do you think Tandy’s bold changes will pay off, or has he gone too far in reshuffling the squad? Share your thoughts below! Wales team v France: Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol, 36 caps); Ellis Mee (Scarlets, 5 caps), Eddie James (Scarlets, 5 caps), Joe Hawkins (Scarlets, 5 caps), Josh Adams (Cardiff, 66 caps); Dan Edwards (Ospreys, 8 caps), Tomos Williams (Gloucester, 68 caps); Rhys Carre (Saracens, 24 caps), Dewi Lake (Ospreys, 27 caps, capt.), Tomas Francis (Provence, 78 caps), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter, 27 caps), Adam Beard (Montpellier, 62 caps), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons, 63 caps), Alex Mann (Cardiff, 12 caps), Olly Cracknell (Leicester, 2 caps). Replacements: Ryan Elias (Scarlets, 44 caps), Nicky Smith (Leicester, 59 caps), Archie Griffin (Bath, 12 caps), Ben Carter (Dragons, 15 caps), Taine Plumtree (Scarlets, 12 caps), Kieran Hardy (Ospreys, 29 caps), Jarrod Evans (Harlequins, 14 caps), Mason Grady (Cardiff, 16 caps).
