​Wales have made a number of alterations for the Nations Championship clash with Argentina on Saturday, with Louis Rees-Zammit moving to the bench and Sam Costelow handed the starting fly-half duties. Ellis Mee comes in to replace Rees-Zammit on the wing, while Dan Edwards, the Ospreys outside-half who started in the 39-24 win over Fiji, misses out on the 23-man squad. Head coach Steve Tandy has implemented three changes in total, with James Botham coming in at flanker to take the place of Cardiff teammate Alex Mann.
Tandy described the change as a great opportunity for the new arrivals and an exciting challenge for the squad. Kane James, the Exeter back-row forward, is poised to make his Test debut after being named as a replacement, and Scarlets hooker Ryan Elias is in line to win his 50th cap should he come off the bench. Cardiff lock Teddy Williams and Gloucester centre Max Llewellyn are also named among the reserves.
Rees-Zammit, who had been playing at full-back throughout the Six Nations, returns to the wing and swaps roles with Mee. Wales are hoping the Bristol back can impose himself as a impactful substitute.
Edwards had started Tandy’s first seven games in charge but was dropped for the Six Nations match against Scotland in February. Costelow had impressed before Scarlets fly-half Edwards returned from injury and took over for the last two games against Ireland and Italy. Edwards produced a strong 16-point performance in the victory over Italy, helping Wales end a three-year Six Nations losing stretch. However, his form dipped in the heavy defeat to Fiji, while Costelow offered a composed second-half showing as a replacement. With Edwards out of the squad, fly-half cover will come from centre Joe Hawkins.
Scarlets contribute five of the seven backs chosen for Wales, with Mee and Costelow joined by Hawkins and Eddie James in the centres, along with full-back Blair Murray. Kane James, who is Welsh-born but played for England Under-20s and grew up in Cardiff, could earn his first test cap after a breakthrough season with Premiership runners-up Exeter. The 21-year-old was named in the Wales squad for the summer and is expected to get his opportunity this weekend.
“Kane is an exciting player,” Tandy said. “He’s incredibly powerful and fast, and the way he has integrated into the environment has shown he isn’t tentative in anything he does. He brings a lot of energy to his work, and he’s extremely diligent about the detail. I’m excited to see Kane win his first cap this weekend.”
Elias, at 31, has forced his way back into the Wales fold, and a 50th cap would acknowledge his resilience and fine form over the past year. “Ryan’s story is remarkable,” Tandy commented. “He is an outstanding leader and person who has added considerable value to our group. Reaching 50 caps is an incredible achievement and a well-deserved honour.”