Matt Sherratt will take charge of Wales for the very first time on Saturday as they take on Ireland at Principality Stadium. He’s already added three players, Jarrod Evans, Max Llewellyn and Gareth Anscombe to the squad.
Having taken charge of Cardiff Rugby’s last outing in the United Rugby Championship (URC), Sherratt will begin his new role as head coach of the Welsh national side for the remainder of the 2025 Six Nations.
With all that said and done, here is who Ruck Rugby thinks is likely to be named in the starting XV for Saturday’s encounter.
1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys, 37 Caps)
Thomas has had a solid campaign so far and has been one of the more consistent players in this Welsh squad, especially when it comes to scrum time. He didn’t make much of an impact against Italy last timeout, but he does a lot of the unseen work well.
2. Elliot Dee (Dragons RFC, 53 Caps)
Saturday’s game is huge and with an experienced front row expected to travel to Cardiff, the 30-year-old will need to be on top form. After coming off the bench in the last two outings, Dee who is smaller than the bigger Evan Lloyd should get the nod especially because of his arrows success at lineout time.
3. Kieron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby, 12 Caps)
With Henry Thomas not really firing, this should be a welcome start for the tighthead whose last start for Wales came against South Africa last June. He’ll be up against experienced Andrew Porter so the 27-year-old needs to be on it. He’s a solid scrummager and when he has come on in the last two games, he has added more strength to the pack.
4. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs, 8 Caps)
Having dropped out of the encounter in Rome due to illness, it’ll be a welcome return to the starting XV for last year’s Six Nations captain. He is a great asset in defence with his physicality and has probably been one of the standout performers in this year’s Championship for Wales.
5. Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby, 3 Caps)
Despite not meaning to be involved last timeout, the 24-year-old was brought onto the bench after Jenkins pulled out due to illness. Williams has been playing a lot of good stuff for Cardiff in the URC and when he came on it seemed at lineout time it vastly improved. Sherratt, knows a lot about Williams and with him being on the verge of getting a first start, surely Saturday his time will come?
6. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons RFC, 54 Caps)
With James Botham having a quiet game in Rome, when Wainwright came on he quickly made an impression having scored after breaking away from a driving maul. He is a huge ball carrier, has great footwork and does a lot of the unseen work around the breakdown area extremely well.
7. Jac Morgan (Ospreys, 20 Caps)
Another player who has had a strong start to this year’s Championship, especially in the opening round against France when his performance was the only positive from the evening. Morgan has been incredible, setting the bar high for other players to aspire to.
Also with the likelihood of the 25-year-old locking horns with Josh van der Flier as his opposite number this could be a battle for a British and Irish Lions Tour spot.
8. Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby, 105 Caps)
Definitely wasn’t at his best last timeout after returning to the international stage after a long period out due to injuries, but when Faletau is on form is there anyone better to have in the eight jersey?
He’s an outstanding ball carrier and he’ll have the expectation of an entire nation wanting him to be the Faletau of old come Saturday afternoon.
9. Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby, 61 Caps)
Creating two brilliant chances against Italy for Josh Adams to cross the whitewash but was unable to take them. The Gloucester Rugby player hasn’t been firing like he has been in recent times this Championship but still is dangerous when given the opportunity to exploit the opposition.
If Wales want any chance of getting on the front foot against Ireland, they’ll need Williams to be firing on all cylinders.
10. Gareth Anscombe (Gloucester Rugby, 38 Caps)
With a lot of people raising an eyebrow and maybe in complete shock that the 33-year-old wasn’t involved in the Warren Gatland’s initial squad for the Six Nations, this was a no brainer from Sherratt.
He’s got a brilliant rugby IQ and just with starting at ten he can calmly control Wales’ game management, something they have been lacking so far this Six Nations.
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby, 61 Caps)
Despite fumbling two golden opportunities (albeit tough conditions) in the Italian capital last timeout, I think Adams is still the right personnel to have in the starting XV. But like many of the experienced players in the Welsh squad when he is at his very best there’s no stopping the 29-year-old and Wales will need exactly that come Saturday afternoon.
12. Nick Tompkins (Saracens, 40 Caps)
Even though Tompkins has had a rough start to this year’s Championship and looked emotionally deflated after the 22-15 defeat to Italy, with him potentially starting back in his preferred 12 shirt this might kick start his Championship.
In attack he’s great at running hard lines and is a great asset in defence, something that you’ll need when your opposite number is likely going to be Bundee Aki.
13. Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby, 5 Caps)
Llewellyn was another surprise absentee to Gatland’s Six Nations squad, but one of the first moves Sherratt did was to recall the 26-year-old who has been playing some quality stuff in the Gallagher Premiership for Gloucester.
And with potentially experienced Tompkins on the inside of Max this will add to maybe getting Wales on the front foot more often instead of being on the back foot.
14. Blair Murray (Scarlets, 5 Caps)
The Scarlets speedster was another late call-up for the Italy game as he replaced, Liam Williams who has left the squad after sustaining a leg injury.
Murray probably had the only real attacking threat which put his side on the front foot at the Stadio Olimpico. One of the areas he needs to be on form is in defence as at times it can be easy for the opposition to get past the 23-year-old.
15. Tom Rogers (Scarlets, 7 Caps)
With Liam Williams no longer involved in this year’s Championship, I feel Rogers is suited best to take over the role at fullback. He’s great under the high ball and when given space to run he can cause a serious problems and create opportunities.
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