Tandy names Mee ahead of Rees-Zammit on merit for Wales clash with Argentina

Wales head coach Steve Tandy has named Scarlets wing Ellis Mee ahead of Louis Rees-Zammit in his starting XV for Saturday’s Nations Championship fixture against Argentina in San Juan, insisting the decision is based purely on form.

Rees-Zammit, 25, featured in all of Wales’ Six Nations matches at full-back following his return to rugby union after a spell attempting to break into the NFL, before moving back to the wing for last week’s Nations Championship opening win over Fiji in Cardiff. He will now look to make an impact from the replacements’ bench.

Tandy was direct when explaining the selection. “Ellis has played really well. I thought he was fantastic against Italy. I think it’s an opportunity to move things around,” he said. “In fairness, Zam didn’t train much last week as well, and there’s a long travel journey, so there’s a bit of thinking in that. But first and foremost, Ellis has been playing outstandingly well.”

Asked whether leaving out Rees-Zammit was a bold call, Tandy pushed back. “No, I think we trust our group. Zam coming off the bench, where the game starts to break up probably even more, is an exciting opportunity for us to see him in that role.”

Tandy has made two further changes to the side that beat Fiji. Ospreys fly-half Sam Costelow comes in to start in place of Dan Edwards, who has been omitted from the squad entirely, while Cardiff flanker James Botham is preferred to Alex Mann at blindside. Exeter back-row Kane James will earn his first senior Wales cap after being named among the replacements. “The way he’s driven, the way he goes about his game is outstanding,” Tandy said. “The energy, the detail he brings — I think he’s fearless as well.”

Scarlets hooker Ryan Elias is set to win his 50th Wales cap from the bench, a milestone that adds further significance to the trip.

Tandy, who began his tenure as Wales head coach with a 52-28 defeat to Saturday’s opponents in Cardiff last autumn, urged his squad to stay grounded despite last week’s victory. “We know this is a major challenge for us. We haven’t won back-to-back games since 2023,” he said. “We want to be more consistent and put more of those moments together on the weekend.”

After the match at the Estadio Bicentenario, Wales travel to Durban to face world champions South Africa the following week.