Inside the mind of the 'best back in Wales'

Wales' 12 this weekend offered some in-depth insight on being a Test player

Before we get into this week’s newsletter, it’s worth mentioning that we’ll be doing a live chat on Substack later this afternoon between 3pm and 5pm.

With Warren Gatland having named his team to face Fiji, as well as more allegations of sexism, coaching departures, an Anglo-Welsh league slipping away and an overarching plan for the game still to be unveiled, it’s fair to say there’s a bit to discuss!

Hopefully, that’s what the live chat will bring for our paid subscribers. So do join us later on!

With that done, let’s get into the newsletter. By now, it’s no secret that I quite enjoy looking at rugby through an analytical lens.

I find it fascinating hearing from players and coaches about the game in greater detail than you’re usually treated to in press conferences. There’s only so much nuance and technical aspects you can get across amid the questions around ‘any knocks this week?’

So when I get the chance to speak in-depth with players and coaches, it’s something I jump at. Which brings us to last week’s Wales’ media day.

Ahead of their autumn campaign, Warren Gatland’s side opened up their doors to the media - putting up all of their players at once for journalists to grab as much as they could.

Given the opportunity for one-on-ones, it felt like the perfect time to speak in-depth with one of Wales’ autumn squad members with the use of some clips.

So, with Gatland hailing Ben Thomas as the “best back in Wales”, you had your hook. And you can read the story here, with Thomas - who will start at 12 this Sunday - going over his Wales performances in the summer.

However, the plan was always to hold back a little bit for our loyal Substack subscribers…