Decision time for Tandy as he looks to nail down his autumn squad

STEVE Tandy's first month in the Wales job has been an eventful one, to say the least.

- BEN JAMES Rugby writer

The new Wales head coach started his post right as the consultation into the future of Welsh rugby began. Hardly ideal in terms of getting your feet under the table, with decisions being made on the number of professional teams moving forward.

But, in fairness to Tandy, he's made a solid start to his role - getting around the clubs in his first month in charge.

Some within the clubs have noted they've already seen Tandy far more in the first 30 days than they ever saw Warren Gatland during his ill-fated second stint in charge of the national team.

That's a solid first step, as is building his coaching staff. Danny Wilson and Matt Sherratt have been confirmed, with a suggestion Tandy’s first campaign will have a scaled-back coaching ticket that could be added to over time.

However, as the man himself will know, the first real public act of being Wales coach comes with naming a squad.

With the autumn curtain-raiser against Argentina on November 9, Tandy will likely name his squad late in October ahead of the squad meeting up.

The question is, who will be in Tandy’s first squad?

THE FORWARDS

STARTING in the pack, summer captain Dewi Lake should be joined by Cardiff hooker Evan Lloyd - who is looking in good form after missing the Japan tour in July.

Whether his club captain, Liam Belcher, is involved could depend on the severity of Elliot Dee's injury - with the Dragons’ man forced off against Ulster on Friday night.

Moving across to loosehead, Leicester's Nicky Smith and Ospreys’ Gareth Thomas are nailed on. Finding a third option is a little trickier.

Ospreys prop Garyn Phillips was that man in the summer, while Scarlets’ Kemsley Mathias was involved in the Six Nations.

Beyond that, Cardiff prop Rhys Barratt was a travelling reserve for Wales in Edinburgh earlier this year, while club teammate Ioan Emanuel was Wales U20s starting loosehead in the Six Nations.