Thomas admits Cardiff flak after Gatland praise

Ben Thomas made his first international start for Wales against Australia in July

Cardiff’s Ben Thomas admits he has taken some flak from team mates after Warren Gatland labelled him the “best back in Wales”.

Thomas, who can play centre or fly-half, was named in Wales’ 35-man squad for the autumn internationals against Fiji, Australia and South Africa.

“I’m sure you can imagine what they’re saying,” Thomas said.

“It’s obviously nice to hear from him [Gatland] but I suppose it’s going to be a different challenge playing Test matches than it is the URC (United Rugby Championship)”.

Thomas impressed against Australia in the summer, his last previous international experience coming as a replacement in 2021.

He said the tour helped him to feel more at ease in an international setting.

"I definitely felt more comfortable going into the campaign this time than when I first got my cap a few year’s back," Thomas said.

"I think that’s probably off the back of playing week in week out for Cardiff, it put me in good stead to go on and play in the summer."

Gatland now faces a conundrum as to where he plays "the best back in Wales".

Thomas has played 12 in each of Cardiff's five URC outings so far this season, but faces stiff competition from Eddie James, Max Llewellyn, Owen Watkin and Nick Tompkins for the Wales shirt.

Thomas said he is aware of conversations between Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt and Gatland over his positioning.

"I think generally speaking both sets of coaches have been pretty relaxed on where I’m playing week to week as there are those transferrable skills between both positions," he said.

"It’s definitely a conversation that I’m aware of, thus far it’s gone pretty smoothly."

Thomas said he is also happy to step up to the tee, for club or country, should he be needed as a goal kicker, having put in plenty of mid-week practice.

"Gats is pretty good in not putting too much expectation on the kicking, he knew that it was not something I was doing every week," he said.

"It’s trying to get as much composure as possible when you’re in the heat of battle and just focussing on each kick as a separate part of the game."