Get ready for a rugby showdown as Wales takes on South Africa this weekend! With 14 changes to the squad for the Autumn Nations Series finale, Wales has undergone a major reshuffle. This massive revamp results from the match falling outside the international window, with club commitments pulling 13 players back to their English and French teams. To fill these gaps, Wales has called up six new players in recent weeks.
Look out for a fresh face in the lineup, as Scarlets winger Ellis Mee makes his debut! Despite the absence of key players like the injured Tom Rogers, Mee is poised to bring some excitement to the field. Meanwhile, Rio Dyer returns to the starting lineup on the wing, his first appearance for the team since the Six Nations, while Joe Roberts joins Joe Hawkins in the centre.
In a new half-back combination, Kieran Hardy steps in at scrum-half, teaming up with his Ospreys mate Dan Edwards at fly-half. In the forwards, Gareth Thomas takes over at loosehead prop, forming a new second-row partnership with Ben Carter and Rhys Davies. Aaron Wainwright’s recovery sees him starting at number eight, with Taine Plumtree and Alex Mann completing the back row shuffle.
As for South Africa, coach Rassie Erasmus largely relies on experience—though scrum-half Cobus Reinach is set for his 50th cap, fresh faces like Morne van den Berg and Johan Grobbelaar are eager to make their mark.
It’s a clash of fresh talent and seasoned pros; who are you rooting for? Let us know your predictions! 🏉💪 #WALvSA #RugbyUnion #AutumnNationsSeries