Tomos Williams is a world-class No. 9, but Steve Tandy must find a trusted understudy before the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
Every great team has a player it simply cannot afford to lose. For Wales, that man is increasingly Tomos Williams. The scrum-half has the experience, the tempo and the game management to run an attack, and that is exactly what makes his understudy such a pressing question for head coach Steve Tandy.
Scrum-half is the heartbeat of a rugby side. The No. 9 dictates the pace, decides when to speed up or slow down, links forwards to backs and often sets the tone for the kicking game. When a player of Williams' quality is in the number nine shirt, the whole team plays with clarity. Take him out, and everything from the breakdown to the exit strategy can wobble.
That is where the planning has to begin. The 2027 World Cup in Australia is on the horizon, and tournament rugby is ruthless on squad depth. Injuries, suspensions and fatigue over a long campaign can strike any key player. Tandy will want to know that whoever steps in can handle the pressure without forcing a change in how Wales play.
The next couple of seasons give Tandy room to experiment. Expect him to hand opportunities to other scrum-halves, test combinations with the fly-half and see who can cope with the heat of Test rugby. Williams may well be the first name on the team sheet, but a strong second option could be the difference between a campaign that survives a setback and one that unravels.
