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Wales set to reduce squad for Nations Championship

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

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Wales led 14-5 against Barbarians at half-time before sealing a two-point win

By Gareth Griffiths

BBC Sport Wales

Published 9 hours ago

Wales head coach Steve Tandy says he will reduce his squad for the Nations Championship early next week.

Tandy watched his side beat the Barbarians 33-31 at the Allianz Stadium in an uncapped warm-up game before three matches against Fiji, Argentina and South Africa.

Wales face Fiji at the Cardiff City Stadium next Saturday before travelling to play the Pumas and the Springboks.

Tandy had initially named a 48-man squad before injuries to Louie Hennessey, Keiron Assirattiand Liam Belcherand will now cut at least 11 more players with the new squad size between 32 and 34.

"It'll be done over the next few days," said Tandy.

"We'll make sure we get everything through the physios now, see how the boys are and make sure everyone pulls up after the game."

Tandy will have an influx of 13 players from English and French clubs who were unavailable for the Barbarians match because it fell outside World Rugby's international window.

It will include Exeter lock Dafydd Jenkins, Saracens-bound scrum-half Tomos Williams, props Nicky Smith and Rhys Carre and Bristol back Louis Rees-Zammit.

"We will see how they are and look back at the game as well, because there will be some tight calls to go on tour," added Tandy.

"The competition gets a little bit higher and we've got to continue to do that."

North star shines bright right to the end

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New-look Wales end losing streak with Barbarians win

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Barbarians game was 'brilliant hit out'

Wales' victory was played in front of a poor crowd of under 20,000 in Twickenham but Tandy says the outing against the Barbarians was a worthwhile exercise.

He pointed to uncapped quartet Rhys Barratt, Ben Warren, Harrison Keddie and Ryan Woodman getting first games for Wales, and Jac Morgan, Teddy Williams, Dillon Lewis and captain Dewi Lake returning to the international stage after long-term injuries.

"Getting the win is great for us and there's lots to like about the game," said Tandy.

"We probably could have put more distance in it in the first half, but it's a brilliant hit-out for us.

"There's lots to learn and get better at, but it's everything we wanted going into Fiji, because that's going to be chaotic at times.

"It's great preparation. You can train as much as you want and the boys have worked hard, but there's nothing quite like feeling it in this heat against a Barbarians team that are going to keep the ball."

Although it was an uncapped game, it was a second successive win for Tandy after the Six Nations triumph against Italy in March.

But Tandy says there is a lot of room for improvement.

"We've got to be better," said Tandy,

"We've got to keep looking at ourselves because I still don't think we're ready yet to be focusing on the bigger outcome.

"We have to be more consistent right across the board, which this group are fighting tirelessly to do."

Tandy outlined what success will look like in the next three weeks in World Rugby's new Nations Championship tournament.

"We want to build and be more consistent," said Tandy.

"If we are seeing more consistency in our performance, I'm going to be very happy, because that'll be closer to winning games."

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Wales set to reduce squad for Nations Championship

Wales set to reduce squad for Nations Championship

Barbarians game was 'brilliant hit out'

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