Assiratti did Ok in fairness but he doesn't make your 23. I would call up Deaves ahead of Reffell - more dynamic. Hennessey not Tompkons & I would start Jarrod. 

I'd put Morse at 7, not big enough for an international 8.

Not too dissimilar to yours:

15 Rogers (Same reasoning, I prefer to see him at FB - everyone missed tackles on the weekend which could be put down to getting used to a new defensive system)
14 Murray (But against NZ and SA, Josh Adams might be the better option - I think he should have an opportunity though)
13 Hennessey (Same reasoning, which is why I'd give him a chance now as he won't get an opportunity for the rest of the series, Llewelyn is probably a safer option though)
12 Hawkins (Best out of the options available in my opinion, shame he hasn't had more game time in the build up but I think he has more potential than the other options as he can be the 2nd playmaker as well as truck it up)
11 LRZ (he looked a little gassed running off the mark at times on the weekend so could be risky if he's not entirely match fit but not sure how he can be left out as I want Beetham to get an opportunity although without the experience to start Beetham takes the bench spot)
10 Edwards
9 Williams

1 Carre (I think we're better to start him then replace him when he's gassed, even if that's at 35 mins, rather than bring him on at a set point later in the game)
2 Lake
3 Griffin (Same reasoning)
4 Beard (I think we need the experience)
5 Jenkins
6 Mann (Played well so doesn't deserve to be replaced)
7 Taine Plumtree (Has played openside at Scarlets, dynamic, and again need someone with test experience and I prefer if we used players originally called up who have had more time in camp)
8 Wainwright

16 Coghlan
17 Smith
18 Assiratti
19 Ben Carter (Offers leadership) or James Fender (a lot of hype around his abilities) (Both will also be necessary in the final test as only Welsh based players available so will need game time so would be tempted to even start Ben Carter in place of Beard or Jenkins)
20 Morgan Morse (Can cover the back row and needs experience)
21 Hardy
22 Sheedy (see what he can do before the remaining tests - he'll also have to play during the SA game anyway with Evans going back to Quins so will need some game time)
23 Beetham (see what he can do before the remaining tests)

15. Beatham 14. LRZ 13. Hennessey 12. Hawkins 11. Adams 10. Jarrod Evans 9. Tomos

1. Smith 2. Lake 3. Assirrati 4. Beard 5. Jenkins 6. Plumtree 7. Morse 8. Wainwright

16. Belcher 17. Carre 18. Griffin 19. Thomas 20. Cracknell 21. Hardy 22. Edwards 23. Murray. 

Looks like a reasonable selection...

I might prefer LRZ at 15 with Rogers on the wing. Beard actually did OK, I thought - and Jenkins was anonymous, so not sure about that. Plumtree definitely plays some part, if fit. 

Jenkins really DOES do a lot of unseen work. You don't captain Exeter and be a mug. 

I don't think LRZ wants to play FB.

It’s the only winnable match.

Gatland was right he is a wasted talent no way is he fit, I suppose he gets away with it at Saracens because he is playing with better players. 

Wales has to move to the NZ style where bigger players play up in junior rugby. There's enough big Welsh rugby players around but they've coasted so much for so long that they're just a bit soft and haven't developed enough.

That seems a little shoddy then Wil especially deciding to start him. 

I agree Wales should copy NZ....but not just in getting bigger/talented players to play up which I believe already goes on....but in it's emphasis on fitness.

The tempo they play at is astonishing. We're not the biggest nation so our number one focus should be on playing a high tempo fast game, which was always the Welsh way.

Surely this was a game we needed to try people like Hawkins, Fender, Deaves and Davies. 

Picking Blair at 15 is not right either would have put him on bench and tried Beetham or even Rogers. 

What they have done is picked a back row with the wrong balance surely would be better to start with a genuine open side. 

The World Cup seeding is irrelevant as we will not get past group stages whether a second tier of third tier team. Even if we do we will be embarrassed by a tier one nation in the quarters. 

Looks as if the coaches have gone for consistency in selection, with few changes. This can be a good idea, at times. Is it a good idea here? I think that I'm prepared to wait for the result before making a judgement on that!

FWIW, I would have moved Murray to the wing and chosen someone taller at 15... though presumably the Japanese backs will be shorter than the Argentina ones - or are they? The centres both did very little last week, so can be considered very lucky. Edwards didn't kick well either. 

In the forwards, it's a sensible call to start Smith. The lack of a 'proper' 7 could be a problem. Plumtree definitely deserves his place in the 23... so long as the new coaches can get him to control his enthusiasm and avoid giving away silly pens or a YC.

You could argue that some decisions in the backs fall into the same bracket. 

Mann

Wainwright 

Cracknell

Thomas

Plumtree

Against Japan who will be throwing the ball around for fun?

The comparison to Pollock is fair.

Pollock rarely starts for Saints.

He hasn't played much post Lions.

I'd have Morse on the bench but in place of a back.

We don't need a fly half on the bench if Thomas is starting.

He's only started half of games in the last 2 seasons for his club does raise the question whether his coaches think he's ready, I do, but my coaching experience is just a tad below Tandy and Mark Jones!

Gate12 - There just seems to be this fear or something that stops him being picked more. Maybe it's his versatility, maybe it's case of they're trying SO hard to make his development perfect that they're scared of playing him too early. I have a mate whose son played with him all through school, and I've followed his career closely. Everything points to him being a star. Nothing has ever really come out that suggests otherwise. By the time he gets in the Welsh team though, he'll have lost all that glorious exuberance of youth and be another jaded Welsh rugby 'star'!

Other countries, more successful countries, are happy to throw in younger players, what makes us think that we're doing it a better way?

That’s classic Tandy, he used to do the same things for the Ospreys.

I can’t figure out how Ben Thomas is an international 12.

Totally agree RBP. You can only be the coming man for so long!!!!!! This game would have been ideal. I would have started him at 7 with instructions to target the defensive breakdown & get into the wide channels whenever possible. The boy has got what it takes but its asking a lot to expect him to come in against the two best sides in the World & make a difference from the off. 

I would have also had Deaves on the bench in place of Plumtree or Thomas.

So we're looking at trying to out-muscle Japan, one of the precious few teams we could attempt that against, and then we'll get smashed by NZ and SA. But I guess we should hold that 12th ranking place which is arguably THE most important thing.

Perhaps, but then he selected Thomas at 12 and Murray at 15. Hawkins would have been a more robust 12. Or Hennessey.

Likewise Beetham is 6ft2 at fullback. Panic selections creeping in.

Yeah I get that, I just don’t agree with then. Murray played 15 against Japan twice and they got the better of him. I’ve yet to see anything in Thomas suggesting he’s an international class 12.

But if you don’t try them you will never know, I don’t see the point in picking a player like Beard when you have Fender or Davies in the squad. Same with picking Deaves in squad and then going with effectively three 6’s in back row. Then putting two other 6’s on bench, Freddie Thomas is a six not a lock. There is clearly one game plan if that doesn’t work we’re knackered. 

As for Ben Thomas it’s totally baffling. 

Look at the team young Pollock was put into compared to the one young Morse will be immersed into...if he's picked for the SA game without even the England based players around him he's on a hiding to nothing.

Bleak Wil!! Very bleak. With all due respect, I hope you’re wrong.

I can see it. We were lucky to get the win in Japan, totally a chance we blew test #2 this summer and were staring down 20+ losses on the bounce.

Tandy loves his 6s. I can’t figure out how Cracknell went from called up behind Morse and Plumtree to starting. Wainwright finally hitting the gears at 8, and we move him

I do have to ask: what on earth has happened to Josh Adams? He used to be good but it's like Cuthbert all over again. 

Murray having an awful game. Pack has zero impact and the centres even less. Only players I see having a reasonably satisfactory game are Jenkins/Tomos/Dan - the rest are an embarrassment to Welsh teams of the past. As for the coaches - Tandy/Wilson/Sherratt/Lydiate - all bargain basement and we all knew they weren't up to it. Still, the WRU wants to be in charge of it all. Well this is what you get.