Steve Tandy Q&A... a start for LRZ and a headache just around corner

STEVE Tandy has named his team for Wales' second autumn fixture against Japan tomorrow.

- BEN JAMES Rugby Writer [e-mail]

The new Wales coach has kept changes to a minimum, making just four personnel swaps - as well as a couple of positional switches - to face the Brave Blossoms this weekend.

Here's everything Tandy had to say after naming his team...

Was it straightforward to bring Louis Rees-Zammit back in?

“I think it was pretty straightforward. Him getting some minutes and a full week of training. We know the quality he brings. Bringing him back in was pretty straightforward.”

And Olly Cracknell gets a first start?

“OLLY’S been great. His experiences with Leicester, he’s battle-hardened. He adds that impact. He was delighted to get his first Test cap. And to now get a start, it only helps the group. Even though he hasn't got lots of international experience, he’s got lots of rugby experience which will help us on the weekend.”

What about the changes in the front-row?

“I think it will be good for us for them to finish the game off. They played really, really well - Carre and Assiratti. ‘They were excellent in the way that they played. Then you had Nicky Smith and Archie coming off the bench last weekend. Turning that around, it’s a six-day turnaround and it’s just mixing things up a little bit”

12 of the matchday 23 play outside of Wales - does that pose a headache for the out-of-window match against South Africa?

“IT'S going to be a bit of a headache! It is what it is. We knew that was happening. We might make one or two call-ups closer to the time, but we can’t focus that far ahead. It's about the here and now. It’s a short week. Just two days training. It’s just making sure we're firmly focused on Japan.

We can think about South Africa later. It’s all about Saturday!

What's the thinking behind Tommy Reffell not being called up?