Wales head coach Steve Tandy says there has been a big demand on the workload of scrum-half Tomos Williams.
The British and Irish Lions number nine again played the full 80 minutes in the 28-21 defeat of Japan with Rebuen Morgan-Williams an unused replacement.
Williams has started 12 out of 13 Test matches in the Tandy era and has completed five of those games.
"It is a big balance to strike," said Tandy as he prepared his side to face New Zealand in Cardiff on Saturday.
"When one of your best players, a British and Irish Lion, is in that position, there probably is an over-demand on Tomos."
The only game Williams has not started in the Tandy era was the 73-0 hammering inflicted by South Africa in November 2025.
That match fell outside World Rugby's international window with England-based club players not eligible for the fixture.
In those 12 internationals Williams has started, Tandy has used the replacement scrum-half for just 48 minutes with an average of four minutes per game.
Williams has playing a full 80 minutes on five occasions with his average minutes per Test at 74.3 minutes, although that includes two yellow cards he has picked up.
The players chosen as bench cover for Williams have played a combined total of only 30 minutes in the…
