Wales vs Japan: Steve Tandy’s side have no margin for error in the classification on the line

Some feel that Ben Thomas was lucky to avoid suspension after being sent off when Argentine winger Pablo Matera collided with the ball last Sunday.

A yellow card was deemed sufficient because the TMO could find no evidence of the Center making contact.

Thomas has been a key player for Cardiff under Wales attack coach Matt Sherratt and was at the heart of plenty of promising moments when the ball was in hand against the Pumas.

He now has competition from Joe Hawkins, now with the Scarlets after a spell at Exeter saw his international career put on hold.

The pair have similar dimensions – 6ft 6 and around 15ft – and the choice to play together is influenced by the need to give young Dan Edwards a decent chance at fly-half.

Thomas won 15 caps and made his 14th consecutive Test start alongside Max Llewellyn.

“Ben is a quality player, and that’s the way we want to play, to have that second pair of hands,” Tandy said. “Vision helps Dan in the way we want to play.

“Ben played consistently well for Cardiff, and he did really well for Wales, and there was a lot of interaction between the 10 and 12 people, and with [scrum-half] Tomos Williams as well. “There was a lot of positivity.”

Keeping Blair Murray, one of Wales’ shining sparks in their nightmare 2024-25, at full-back was another big talking point of selection after Argentina took control of the air.

“A few months ago, people were talking about him as a potential full-back for the British and Irish Lions,” Sherratt said of the 5ft 8in Scarlet fullback.

“He is very dangerous on the broken court and is an instinctive player, so when he comes back to win in the air he will show what he has with his running style.”