Wales head coach Steve Tandy has stated that there is a significant reliance on fly-half Tomos Williams. Williams played all 80 minutes in the 28-21 victory over Japan, while Reuben Morgan-Williams remained an unused substitute in that match.
Williams has started 12 of the 13 Test matches in Tandy's era, completing five of those games in full. The only match he did not start was against South Africa in November 2025, when Wales lost 73-0. That game fell outside the World Rugby international window, meaning players from English clubs were not eligible to play.
In the 12 matches Williams started, Tandy used a substitute fly-half for only 48 minutes, an average of four minutes per game. Williams played the full 80 minutes on five occasions, and his average minutes per Test is 74.3, including two yellow cards he received. Players selected as substitutes on the bench for Williams have played a combined total of only 30 minutes in the last nine Test matches in 2026. Williams started all nine of those games and completed four in full.
"There is a huge reliance on Tomos, and you cannot escape that," Tandy said. "Most teams rely on big players, and Tomos enjoys playing. If you look at rhythm, Tomos loves playing rugby. Being substituted, it is not a problem, but at Saracens it is probably more of a rotation policy. Some guys like to be in rhythm, while others can handle that rotation policy. But currently, he is in excellent form."
Tandy was preparing his team for the match against New Zealand in Cardiff on Saturday. "It is a big balance to strike," Tandy said. "When one of your best players, a British and Irish Lion, is at that position, there is probably too much demand on Tomos."
Kieran Hardy had been Williams' underused substitute until he suffered a serious knee injury in October. That injury could keep him out of the 2027 World Cup in Australia. Morgan-Williams and untried Dragons fly-half Che Hope remained the fly-halves in the autumn squad. "Reuben is doing well, and Che is an exciting young talent," Tandy said. "We just need to make sure we manage that part correctly, that we do it right for that person, as well as for Tomos. There is no substitute for Test rugby, but you have to treat them correctly, given who you are playing against. So potentially putting Che to start against New Zealand – those are things we as coaches consider. We know we have to develop that space."
Williams missed one Test match in Tandy's era. On that occasion, Hardy started and played 49 minutes, while Morgan-Williams came on for the final 31 minutes. Wales play New Zealand as part of the Nations Championship on Saturday, 14 November, at 14:10 GMT, at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
