Shane Williams believes Louis Rees-Zammit is the man to fill the problem position of full-back for Wales in Saturday’s showdown with Argentina at the Principality Stadium.
Leigh Halfpenny has been ruled out of the game against the Pumas by the hamstring injury which forced his late withdrawal from last weekend’s clash with the All Blacks.
He joins the crocked Liam Williams on the sidelines, leaving Wales short of a specialist full-back. The versatile Gareth Anscombe stepped into the role against New Zealand, having originally been named at outside-half.
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Shane Williams feels that, with Josh Adams available again, the moment has now come to try out Gloucester winger Rees-Zammit at 15.
“To hear that we don’t have an out and out full-back is a concern because Argentina are very good in the air, so that’s a tough one,” said the wing legend.
“It would be great for a young full-back to come through and get this opportunity to wear the jersey and make a claim for it, but we don’t have that in Wales at the moment.”
So, looking at the available options, Williams continues: “I have always said I would love to see Louis Rees-Zammit at 15. He is a big lad, he is tall, he is rangy, he’s got a lovely kicking game as well. We have seen that with Gloucester and he has played there before for the club.
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“I would like to see him have the opportunity and have a bit more of a free rein at full-back. If we are talking about building for a World Cup, these are the times to have a look at options. So why not have a little play around?
“We know what Louis is capable of. He’s certainly confident and I don’t think anyone in Wales would have a concern about putting him at 15 and he might be the answer to our prayers there. You don’t know until you try really.”
As for the wingers he would go for, record Wales try scorer Williams says: “I think Josh Adams comes straight back in. He’s an out-and-out finisher, he’s got experience and Rio Dyer deserves another go, that’s for sure.”
Reflecting on Dyer’s debut display versus the All Blacks, he said: “He was up against the likes of Sevu Reece and Caleb Clarke, plus the Barrett brothers, who are all quality players, so it was going to be a tough ask for him, but I thought he held his own.
“He took his try really well and worked really hard off the ball. He chased kicks, his positioning defensively was great, he tackled. He did himself and his family proud.
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“Obviously Jordie Barrett scored a try when he outjumped him, but Barrett is about 7ft 8ins, so Rio was always up against it, bless him.
“I thought he did the Welsh team proud. It’s quite funny actually, my wife was texting me saying ‘Oh it’s brilliant, Rio Dyer has scored’. I am thinking she has never met him in her life, but it’s one of those where you are really happy for him because there is nothing more daunting than a first cap and I don’t know how I would have coped playing against the All Blacks for the first time.”
In addition to the loss of Halfpenny, Wales have another injury issue, with flanker Tommy Reffell ruled out by the rib problem he picked up in the 55-23 defeat to New Zealand.
With Taulupe Faletau and skipper Justin Tipuric odds on to start, the question is who now completes the back row against the Pumas?
“I like the look of Christ Tshiunza,” said the 87-cap Williams. “There is obviously a lot of chat about him in the English Premiership, he is very physical, he is a big man.
“I want to see him play a bit more rugby in a Welsh jersey and perhaps this is his opportunity.
“It really does depend how you want to play this game against Argentina. If you want a big arm wrestle and you want to hit up around 9, Tshiunza is the man for you because he’s a big boy.
“But if you want a dynamic 6 or 7 that’s going to try and turn the ball over every time he gets an opportunity, you are looking at someone like Jac Morgan who is also very dynamic when he gets his hands on the ball.”
Giving his general thoughts on the loss to the All Blacks, who ran in eight tries, Williams said: “Not for one minute of that match did I think Wales could win. We seemed to be second best in all aspects of the game.
“We were dominated in the breakdown area with and without the ball. That put us under pressure, then our discipline wasn’t particularly good and we made a lot of mistakes.”
Looking ahead to this weekend, he concluded: “Argentina are going to be physical, they are going to be tough, but they want to play some rugby and move it around the field as well. Looking at their performance against England, I would put them as favourites. So this is a huge game for Wales on Saturday.”
Shane Williams will be commentating for Prime Video this weekend. Prime Video is the home of Wales’ Autumn Nations Series matches in November, including this Saturday’s fixture against Argentina.
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