Australia v Wales: Warren Gatland aims to solve problem positions

Wales head coach Warren Gatland says he hopes to solve the problem positions of fly-half and tight-head prop after naming Ben Thomas and Archie Griffin for the first Test against Australia.

Both players will be making their first international starts when they face the Wallabies in Sydney on Saturday.

Thomas makes his first international appearance since 2021 having been preferred to Sam Costelow in the number 10 shirt.

The 25-year-old plays most of his club rugby with Cardiff at inside-centre and only made one start at fly-half in the 2023-24 season.

Thomas will become the sixth fly-half Gatland has used since he returned as Wales head coach in 2022, after he previously picked Dan Biggar, Owen Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Costelow and Ioan Lloyd.

With Biggar having retired and Anscombe unavailable this summer after a long-term groin injury, Gatland has now turned to Thomas.

"I've been impressed with him at Cardiff," said Gatland.

"The couple of games he's played there, he's looked comfortable at 10.

"He's a player that has got time on the ball. We know he's got some work to do. But it's a position where there isn't a huge amount of strength in depth if we pick up injuries. With Ben, it just gives us another option.

"He's got the running attributes and could run a game for us at 10. He's looked comfortable for us during the week."

Thomas will assume the goal-kicking duties with Gatland admitting he has "no idea" how his new fly-half will cope with the pressure.

"He's been working hard with Neil Jenkins (Wales kicking coach)," said Gatland.

"I'd say there's probably others around who, percentage-wise, are a little bit better than where he is.

"But that's not what we're focusing on at the moment. We think with his kicking game and the amount of work he does with Neil, he'll improve in that area."

Thomas will have some familiar faces alongside him with Cardiff colleagues Ellis Bevan and Mason Grady starting at scrum-half and inside centre, respectively.

Grady is also being asked to play out of position as he wears the number 12 jersey for only the second time in his professional career, having started there against South Africa in last month's 41-13 defeat at Twickenham.

"With the nine, 10 and 12 coming from Cardiff, hopefully those combinations will make a difference," said Gatland.

"We know Mason had a lot of his game-time on the wing at the start of the season and Cardiff moved him into the centre later on.

"We're looking at him as potentially a 12 option, particularly to get some gainline stuff against defences that come a lot harder and faster than at club level.

"He's been good. We're seen a maturity in him in terms of scanning, taking on more responsibility and talking. That comes with experience."

Wales are also struggling to fill the tight-head prop role left by Tomas Francis, who has been missing since the 2023 World Cup following his move to French club Provence.

Gatland insists Francis has not retired from international rugby but the Wales coach is looking for a long-term successor.

Henry Thomas, Leon Brown and Keiron Assiratti were ruled out of the summer through injury, while Dillon Lewis is not fit for the first Test.

This paves the way for Bath prop Griffin who was born in Sydney but qualifies for Wales through his parents.

"It's one position we're probably the most exposed at," said Gatland.

"We just haven't had a consistent tighthead who is playing week-in, week-out. The last one was probably Tomas Francis but we need to get someone on the field and develop some experience.

"Archie is explosive and technically excellent. Unfortunately in the Six Nations he picked up an injury right at the start. It's good to see him back and we would just like to see him play some more rugby."

Griffin will face Australia's most-capped player against James Slipper who will be playing his 135th international.

"That's how you learn your trade, it's a hard one," said Gatland.

"I don't expect any front-rows or tight forwards to be any good until they're 27, 28 or 29. I know James Slipper is a little older than that and his record speaks for itself.

"With Tupou on the tighthead, they've probably thought that's one area they can get an advantage and dominate."

Wales aim to solve the recent scrum problem positions they had against South Africa.

"It's definitely been a focus in terms of tightening it up this week," said Gatland.

"We can't operate a game with our scrum being under that sort of pressure.

"I don't think Archie will be fazed, but it'll be a learning curve for him. As an ex front-rower myself, things don't always go as you expect."