Tandy excited by Wales' opportunity to test themselves against New Zealand
Wales head coach Steve Tandy is relishing the challenge of facing an in-form New Zealand side
©Photo by Marcos Brindicci - Nations Championship/Getty Images
Wales head coach Steve Tandy says his side have an "exciting opportunity" when they face New Zealand in the Nations Championship at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.
Tandy has made four changes to his starting XV, with three coming in the pack as Aaron Wainwright is ruled out through injury.
Cardiff's Taine Basham replaces Wainwright, while Adam Beard and James Botham also come into the side.
In the backs, Leicester Tigers wing Gabe Hamer-Webb starts ahead of Josh Adams, who drops out of the matchday 23 despite scoring two tries in Wales' victory over Japan.
Props Gareth Thomas and Dillon Lewis are named among the replacements and could make their first appearances of the November campaign.
Tomos Francis has been released from the squad after sustaining a knee injury in training.
Wales face an All Blacks side looking for a fourth consecutive Test victory. New Zealand began their November fixtures with a convincing 43-21 win over Scotland and claimed maximum points during their summer Nations Championship matches.
Tandy believes the match presents an opportunity for players such as Basham and Hamer-Webb to test themselves against one of the world's leading sides.
"It's going to be an amazing opportunity for Taine to come in," said Tandy.
"We're always intent on making one or two changes in the team, but we feel pretty excited for Taine to get an opportunity in a really competitive area of strength for us.
"I like Taine's ball carrying but also his resilience. He hasn't played for a few years for Wales, but I just thought there was something in him.
"He's taken a little bit of time to settle at Cardiff, and then I was watching the games against the South African teams at the back end of last season, where I think Cardiff were a bit thin on the ground with numbers, and I thought he really stepped up.
"He looks fit and energised, and I love his personality as well. He isn't going to die wondering about what he wants to do, and he's been great in and around the camp. He's worked hard and deserved his opportunity."
As for Hamer-Webb, he endured a difficult introduction to Test rugby when he featured in Wales' narrow Six Nations defeat against Scotland in February.
However, the 26-year-old has continued to impress for Leicester Tigers and scored a hat-trick against Saracens earlier this season.
Tandy believes the winger has earned another opportunity after establishing himself at his club.
"I think the way he's gone to Leicester, you look at [Adam] Radwan and [Ollie] Hassell-Collins, who have been in real form," he said.
"He's broken into that, but his intent on his chase, the growth in his recovery and what he does, I think he thoroughly deserves this opportunity.
"I think even on the Monday (following Wales v Scotland), when you speak to Gabe, the awareness piece [was brilliant]. Some players will probably just shy away from what the game was, but he was brilliant.
"You didn't have to go through [it with him]. As coaches, we go through things one-on-one and have everything prepared. He knew exactly what it was."
Tandy looking to manage Williams' workload
Tandy has also admitted there has been an "overreliance" on Saracens scrum-half Tomos Williams.
The 31-year-old has been a regular in Wales' matchday squads, starting 12 of their last 13 matches. His only absence came against South Africa in 2025, when the fixture fell outside the international Test window.
Tandy said finding the right balance between using one of his leading players and developing other options is important.
"It's a big balance to strike, and I think when one of your best players is a British Lion in a position, there's probably an over-demand on Tommy," he said.
"Reuben [Morgan-Williams] is doing really well, Che [Hope] is an exciting young talent, so it's making sure that we manage that correctly.
"There is a massive reliance on Tommy and you can't run away from that. Our intention is that we have to look at how we grow that space.
"At the end of the day, most teams rely on big players and I think with Tommy, he loves playing as well.
"Tommy does like getting into a rhythm and being taken on. That's not an issue, but at Saracens it's probably more of a rotation policy.
"Some boys like being in the group, some boys can handle that rotation, but at the minute he's in a great space."
'There's always an aura about the All Blacks'
Wales have not beaten New Zealand since their 13-8 victory in Cardiff in December 1953.
The All Blacks have won every meeting since, with Saturday's visitors arriving in the captial after their impressive victory against Scotland.
Head coach Dave Rennie has made eight changes to his starting XV from that match in Edinburgh.
Beauden Barrett captains New Zealand for the first time from full-back, while Anton Lienert-Brown comes into midfield to partner Quinn Tupaea following an injury to Jordie Barrett.
Fehi Fineanganofo replaces the injured Will Jordan, while George Bower and Asafo Aumua come into the front row.
Josh Lord partners Scott Barrett in the second row, with Anton Segner, Peter Lakai and Wallace Sititi completing the back row.
Tandy acknowledged the challenge facing his side but believes Wales must concentrate on their own performance.
"The All Blacks are an unbelievable team," he said. "You look at World Cups and everything and how good they are and the former players they've had.
"There's always that aura about the All Blacks, but I think for us, our boys, it's been trying to look in the mirror more and what we can do.
"They've got an unbelievable squad. They've been together for a long time.
"They're superbly coached. With Dave, culturally, everything about that has gone up a level since we played them last [November].
"But for us, it's got to be about getting better and trying to put our game out there. I thought we showed some good intent on the weekend.
"We scored some really good tries and we thought some of our defence improved, in particular around the mid-third of the pitch.
"But ultimately the firm focus has to be on us because I think if you start watching a hell of a lot of New Zealand or trying to show everything that they've got, then it's not really about you.
"We're aware and we totally respect where New Zealand are. You'll be heavily punished, you know how good they are in transition.
"But it's an exciting opportunity for us and it's another massive game for some of our younger boys to go and test themselves against the best in the world."
Tandy believes Wales have improved
Wales were beaten 52-26 by New Zealand when the sides last met 12 months ago.
However, Tandy believes his side have developed since that defeat, pointing to greater cohesion and a better understanding of their game.
"I think we're definitely better, we're more cohesive," he said.
"I think we know our game better. We're getting a better understanding, a little bit more cohesion, and the boys are understanding training weeks.
"We've probably got more coaches in, so that's getting more settled. We're definitely growing.
"I think every player and every coach, when you're taking on a game, there's always that belief. Otherwise, why are you going to turn up? There's always moments.
"Whether it be in any given game, there's always shock results, whether it be in football or rugby.
"I think when players go on that field, they definitely wouldn't be professional if they didn't have that reality piece.
"On history, you can't run away or pretend history isn't there.
"Look at Scotland. They've never beaten the All Blacks, but every time they go out, they think they can win those games.
"So I think for professional rugby players, they believe and you always dream about what you want to do, and it'll be no different on Saturday."
Wales: Murray; Rees-Zammit, E James, Llewellyn, Hamer-Webb; Costelow, Tomos Williams; N Smith, Lake (c), Griffin, D Jenkins, Beard, Botham, Morgan Basham.
Replacements: Elias, G Thomas, D Lewis, Carter, Plumtree, Morgan-Williams, Edwards, Hennessey.
New Zealand: B Barrett (c); Fineanganofo, Tupaea, Lienert-Brown, Moorby; Mo'unga, Ratima; Bower, Aumua, Newell, S Barrett, Lord, Segner, Lakai, Sititi.
Replacements: Bell, Numia, Tosi, Hannah, E Blackadder, Fainga'anuku, Preston, R Ioane.
