Wales head coach Steve Tandy is set to make significant selection changes for the clash with Japan, with Sam Costelow poised to take the No.10 shirt and Max Llewellyn and Eddie James expected to form a powerful centre partnership.
The move signals a departure from the dual-playmaker approach favoured by attack coach Matt Sherratt, who has traditionally used a second playmaker at inside centre, with Ben Thomas and Joe Hawkins his preferred options over the past year.
Centre partnership changes
WalesOnline understands Llewellyn and James are set to form the midfield partnership against Japan, with Bath centre Louie Hennessey expected to be named among the replacements.
There have been growing calls from supporters and former players for Tandy to select James at inside centre, but a couple of weeks ago the Wales head coach said he viewed the Scarlets centre as an outside centre.
Llewellyn has limited experience at inside centre for Wales, having started there just once before against England in a World Cup warm-up at the Principality Stadium in 2023.
Coach's view on James
"I see Eddie more as a 13. He can definitely play 12, as we have seen for the Scarlets, but in our team he is more of a 13 who can play 12," Tandy told the ScrumV podcast a couple of weeks ago.
"Louie Hennessey, Max Llewellyn and Eddie, they have big frames and there is lot of interchangeability for the 12s and 13s. We have a nice variety of options there."
Back line and pack selections
Costelow looks set to get the nod ahead of Dan Edwards at fly-half, with Tomos Williams expected to start at scrum-half. Blair Murray is likely to retain the full-back jersey, with Josh Adams and Louis Rees-Zammit completing the back three on the wings.
In the pack, WalesOnline has been told that Nicky Smith is in line to start at loosehead ahead of Rhys Carre. Bath prop Archie Griffin is expected to get the nod over Tomas Francis at tighthead, while Dewi Lake is set to captain the side.
There is an injury concern around Exeter Chiefs lock Dafydd Jenkins, but if he gets through training he is expected to link up with Ben Carter in the second-row, with Alex Mann completing the back row alongside Jac Morgan and Aaron Wainwright.
