Wales name team for Nations Championship clash against South Africa

Head coach Steve Tandy has today announced the Wales team to play South Africa at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban in round three of the Nations Championship on Saturday.

There are six changes to the starting XV from round two. Teddy Williams makes his first start of the Nations Championship alongside Adam Beard in the second row. In the back row Alex Mann is named at blindside flanker, with Jac Morgan at openside flanker and Aaron Wainwright at No 8.

Dan Edwards is selected at flyhalf with Tomos Williams at scrumhalf. Ben Thomas, named at inside centre, makes his first appearance in the Nations Championship. Max Llewellyn partners Thomas in the midfield.

Louis Rees-Zammit and Josh Adams start on the wings and Blair Murray continues at fullback. There is a six two split on the Wales bench. Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith and Ben Warren are the front row replacements. Teddy Williams is covering the second row, with Tommy Reffell and James Botham the back row cover. Reuben Morgan-Williams and Joe Hawkins are the replacement backs.

Tandy said: “We’ve made some changes to the starting XV. It’s coming to the end of the season; we’ve had a big bit of travel. Some boys deserve an opportunity and it’s a chance to freshen up the team.

“South Africa are world champions. They have loads of depth. “For us, it’s about putting our game out there. We want to see a real physical edge.

“We’re going up against probably the most physical team in the world. So we know we’re going to have to really step up the physicality. It’s a great opportunity to test ourselves against the best team in the world.”

Springbok starting XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Jaco Williams, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse; 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Cobus Reinach; 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (capt), 6 Paul de Villiers; 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese; 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Damian Willemse.

Wales starting XV: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Josh Adams; 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Tomos Williams; 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Alex Mann; 5 Adam Beard, 4 Teddy Williams; 3 Dillon Lewis, 2 Dewi Lake (capt), 1 Rhys Carre. Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Ben Warren, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 James Botham, 22 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 23 Joe Hawkins.

South Africa v Wales @ Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban 5.40pm

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

Assistant Referees: Pierre Brousset (FFR), James Doleman (NZR)

Television Match Official: Glenn Newman (NZR)

Split Screen/FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)