Taine Basham is close to a Wales recall next week - but just how has he managed it?

When Taine Basham first emerged in the Wales squad under Wayne Pivac five years ago, the word team-mate Dan Biggar used to describe him was "swagger".

At the age of 22, he looked to the manor born. Between the summer of 2021 and 2022, he played in 11 of Wales' 14 Tests - taking the fight to the All Blacks in his fourth cap and first start.

Back then, he looked like Wales' future openside. But within months, Jac Morgan and Tommy Reffell were both capped and, since that 2022 Six Nations, Basham hasn't started a Test for his country.

There were six cameos off the bench under Warren Gatland, going to the 2023 World Cup before featuring once in the following Six Nations.

But in the two years since, the 26-year-old hasn't had a look-in with his country. That could soon change, with Steve Tandy naming his autumn squad next week.

"If you look at the back end of last season, where he came into his right, and then this season's form, I've got no doubts they will definitely look at him," said his coach at Cardiff, Corniel van Zyl.

Basham joined the Blue and Blacks last summer, looking for a fresh start to kickstart his Test career. One year on, it is on the brink of working.

With Wales' talismanic No. 8 Taulupe Faletau having struggled with injuries in recent seasons, Basham enjoyed an extended run at the back of the scrum at the Arms Park last season.

Until his move to Cardiff, Basham had never started more than five matches in a season wearing the No. 8 jersey. However, he started eight matches there in the second-half of last season.

Now, he's started the first three matches in the jersey - even stepping in at the last minute in Dublin on the weekend after Faletau's comeback from injury was pushed back at the final second.

"I have to tip my hat off for him, because it was less than a minute to go to kick-off," said van Zyl. "All of a sudden, he had to strap his legs and and put his mouthguard in, so it was pleasing to see how he reacted to that situation.

"He performed really well, so credit to his character. I believe he's had a bit of a defensive effort as well in that Leinster game. That's another step forward for him."

Basham has previously spoken about how he's happy to play anywhere in the back-row, having worn both the seven and eight jerseys for his country. That one start at No. 8 did come in a slighly unbalanced back-row against Fiji, made up of fellow opensides Thomas Young and Ellis Jenkins.

"I have played most of my rugby during my career at 7, but I’ve obviously played a lot at 8 as well," said Basham two years ago. “It’s all about what I can bring to the game in whatever jersey I can do it.

"I am happy to play anywhere in the back row as long as I am on the pitch. In terms of my attributes, I don’t think it changes for me.

“I like to get my hands on the ball, get my team-mates on the front foot and then in defence make some good reads and be dominant in that area. Wherever I am asked to play, I am more than happy to go out and do a job anywhere I can help the team.”

Why Basham works at No. 8

Clearly though, Cardiff are getting the best out of the former Dragons man at No. 8. During his first stint with Wales, his explosive carrying shone through - but there were perhaps more traditional opensides coming through.

In Pivac's attack, wearing the seven jersey sometimes saw Basham carrying in parts of the field that didn't suit him or those in support.

As van Zyl noted at the start of the season, he possess "very, very good footwork" that makes him "very, very tough to put down". He added that "he's a handful for any defence to put down".

That perhaps leant itself to those cameos as a carrying threat under Gatland a few years ago, but maybe there's a more regular place in the squad beckoning now he's seemingly found his best position.

"I think in our system, No. 8 suits him very well because it's a little bit less about set-piece detail," explained van Zyl about why he's so effective in the role. "Yes, he's in lineouts and scrums, but probably not as a primary jumper or in set-piece mauls.

"Taine's strong point is just his footwork close to the line, he likes to beat defenders. In the way that we play, the role of the No. 8 is obviously in that position to receive the ball a lot of the time.

"So I think that just makes him stand out, as he does it very well."