D-day for Tandy as new coach's first squad will relay his vision of the future

SO FAR, much of Steve Tandy's work as Wales coach has been reactive. Watching and listening.

- BEN JAMES

Danny Wilson (left) and Steve Tandy watch Cardiff's game against Connacht

Going around the grounds, speaking to coaches, taking in performances. In the early weeks of the season, Tandy as well as new assistants Danny Wilson and Matt Sherratt have been a visible presence every weekend.

In that sense, already an improvement on Warren Gatland.

However, this week will see Tandy's role change.

Today he'll set the agenda, naming his first squad ahead of the upcoming autumn campaign.

As he makes his first real call as Wales coach, he'll learn that you can please all the people some of the time, or some of the people all of the time, but you'll never cater for every one time after time.

The vast majority of a Wales squad will pass by without question, but there'll be always be a few around the edges that come under the microscope.

Heading into the announcement, the vast majority of places are ones that most could probably predict. It's the dozen or so beyond that which will make for interesting reading this week, with faces new and old well placed to force their way back in.

As well as the usual uncapped prospects, the fascinating part of a new coach's reign is the clean slate it offers to players frozen out by the previous regime.

Starting in the back-three, which has become a relative area of strength for Wales, there's perhaps just one place up for grabs.

You'd expect Blair Murray, Josh Adams, Tom Rogers and Cam Winnett to make the squad, while Louis Rees-Zammit if fit seems certain to make his Test return.

Keelan Giles is deserving of another chance, having finally won his long-awaited first cap in the summer.

However, he was a late withdrawal ahead of the Ospreys' clash with Glasgow on Saturday.

There's also Ellis Mee to consider, after his breakthrough in the Six Nations.