The one position that remains a major problem for Wales

SPRINGBOKS legend Danie Craven once famously said: “The first player on any team sheet should be the tighthead prop.”

- STEFFAN THOMAS

Craven was speaking years before the game turned professional, but he was of course referring to the tighthead's importance in locking out a scrum.

In the modern game there is far more to a tighthead's role than simply anchoring the set-piece, but it remains a vitally important component nonetheless.

As Wales enters its first campaign under new head coach Steve Tandy, there are many areas in need of attention ahead of a testing autumn schedule which sees Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa visit the Principality Stadium.

One area where Tandy desperately needs someone to step up is at tighthead prop.

The scrum has been inconsistent at best over the past few years.

For years, Wales arguably had the best scrum in world rugby when Adam Jones was in his prime, while both Samson Lee and Tomas Francis were solid performers.

But when it comes to destructive scrummaging tightheads who can consistently perform at Test level, the cupboard is relatively bare.