Wales head into Saturday's Nations Championship meeting with Japan at the Principality Stadium needing a victory, as patience with Steve Tandy and his coaching team wears thin after a year of progress without consistent results.
There have been signs of improvement over the past 12 months, particularly during the closing stages of the Six Nations, but the demand for results is now more pressing. Japan are not among the upper echelons of international rugby, and playing in front of their own supporters, Wales should have more than enough quality to see off Eddie Jones's side. Anything less would represent a significant setback.
Midfield Selection Under Scrutiny
The most persistent criticism of Tandy's reign has centred on attack coach Matt Sherratt's determination to deploy a second playmaker at inside centre. Joe Hawkins and Ben Thomas have been the principal occupants of the No. 12 jersey, but the approach has yet to deliver the desired results.
Sherratt's ambition to give Wales greater attacking shape, width and variety is understandable. The problem is that, too often, the backline has been left playing on the back foot, struggling to generate momentum or get over the gain-line.
Leading nations show a common theme in midfield. South Africa have Damian de Allende, Ireland rely on the abrasive Bundee Aki, while New Zealand have developed a different kind of threat in Jordie Barrett. Barrett offers the distribution and vision of a second playmaker, but he is a powerful, direct runner who consistently challenges the gain-line.
New-Look Centres and Fly-Half Choice
Wales have moved closer to that model with the selection of Max Llewellyn and Eddie James in midfield. Llewellyn missed large chunks of last season through injury before returning for the summer campaign, but he has since been showing his quality at Gloucester. At 6ft 6in and more than 16st, the 27-year-old has the physical dimensions to cause opponents problems.
Llewellyn's primary responsibility must be to get Wales over the gain-line and provide a platform for those outside him, while also bringing James into the game as often as possible. James is arguably the most effective midfield carrier in Welsh rugby when it comes to making ground through contact.
There may also be raised eyebrows at the decision to select Sam Costelow at outside-half ahead of Dan Edwards. The Scarlets fly-half produced arguably the finest individual performance by a Welsh No. 10 last season in the narrow defeat to Scotland. Costelow offers greater cohesion to the backline, playing flat to the gain-line with the distribution and vision to bring others into the game.
Forward Pack and Selection Calls
There are no Ospreys in the starting XV for the second time in four months. Test matches are still won and lost up front, and there will be a huge onus on Wales' pack to establish dominance against Japan. There are 283 caps of experience in the Welsh eight.
The selection of Nicky Smith ahead of Rhys Carre and Archie Griffin over Tomas Francis may raise eyebrows. Carre has managed only one appearance for Saracens this season because of injury, while Smith offers a more destructive presence at scrum time. At tighthead, Griffin offers more around the park than Francis, though he does not quite match the veteran's scrummaging strength.
Ultimately, Wales have the experience, physical presence and attacking firepower to win this contest comfortably. Now they need to translate that potential into a performance and, more importantly, a result.
