"An opportunity for the players" - Wales make 13 changes for last warm-up game before Rugby World Cup
Warren Gatland announces his Rugby World Cup squad on Monday
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This Summer Nations Series has been a mixed bag for Wales so far.
First up, they secured a surprisingly comfortable win against England, but then they couldn’t reproduce their heroics a week later at Twickenham despite finding themselves eight points clear with 15 minutes left and playing against 12 men.
Now attention turns to South Africa on Saturday and according to Wales contact area coach Jonathan Thomas, this weekend is the "last chance" for many players to impress Warren Gatland before he names his squad for the World Cup on Monday.
"It’s an opportunity for the players," Thomas said. "Not everyone in the squad has played and Gats said on the weekend that there will be an opportunity this weekend and possibly the last chance.
"It’s tough because the last 12 weeks has really been a collective effort. The spirit within the squad has been awesome and it’ll be tough for the guys who are going to miss out. I’ve missed out on World Cups so I know as well as anyone how tough it is. At the same time, you have to make those tough calls."
The visit of the Springboks to the Principality Stadium will be Wales' final tournament warm-up match and the headline news is that Gatland has selected Johnny Williams and Alex Cuthbert to start.
Dan Biggar is back at No 10, Jac Morgan returns as skipper, while Taine Basham has been named on the bench.
The back-rower was hit high by Owen Farrell last weekend which resulted in the England captain being sent off but that red card has since been overturned meaning the 31-year-old is free to play. As for Basham, he passed all three stages of the head injury assessment protocol allowing him to take his place amongst the replacements in Cardiff.
In total, Gatland has made 13 changes to the side that couldn't see out the win against England last week and whilst it was very disappointing to give the game away from the position they were in, the relatively youthful personnel in that Welsh squad will have taken positive learnings from the experience.
Thomas said: "Sometimes you need to go through those things. You learn the most out of things that you haven’t done well. Whilst none of us are happy about our inability to close the game out on the weekend, there were a few young players on that field and it will stand us in good stead moving forward if we take the learnings from that."
South Africa's talismanic captain Siya Kolisi will return in Cardiff to make his first international appearance this year having missed all of The Rugby Championship after picking up a knee injury.
He will start in a star-studded pack that is more or less full-strength and Thomas welcomes the challenge that the Boks will bring: "We want a fully-loaded South Africa. We want to be tested and we’re excited about it.
"All I can say is from the squad perspective is that they are very much focused on South Africa. They are very much living in the moment. There will be times when you’re driving home or in your hotel room and you might be thinking about it [World Cup squad selection Monday] but certainly within camp and on the training field, there’s no talk of that.
"It’s about 23 players working as one because individuals shine most when they work as part of a collective."
Mason Grady is just one player who will see this weekend as a chance to secure himself a spot on the World Cup plane.
His teammate Joe Roberts impressed last Saturday in the 13 jersey with a solid showing, featuring a searing break from deep to set up Tomos Williams’ second-half try, but it is Grady who will combine in the midfield with Johnny Williams against South Africa.
"If I’m selected for the World Cup, it would be a hell of an opportunity," said Grady. "Joe (Roberts) went well against England, regardless of the scoreline he had a very good game. If I play this weekend, it will be a good chance for me to show what I can do and why I should be picked for the World Cup."
The Cardiff back is aware that a good performance will help his chances for selection but at the moment, he is thinking solely about Saturday and the threat of the Boks.
"I’m 100% focused on the game. They are a very good side so if my mind drifts towards selection on Monday, then you’re probably not going to have a good game so I’m just staying focused for Saturday.
"It will be a good challenge for me to show what I can do and there’s no better place to do it than against the world champions."
Wales: L Williams; Cuthbert, Grady, J Williams, Dyer; Biggar, Hardy; Domachowski, Dee, Assiratti, Carter, Rowlands, Lydiate, Morgan (capt), Wainwright.
Replacements: Parry, N Smith, H Thomas, Teddy Williams, Basham, Tomos Williams, Llewellyn, C Evans.
South Africa: W le Roux; C Moodie, J Kriel, D de Allende, C Kolbe; M Libbok, J Hendrikse; S Kitshoff, M Marx, F Malherbe, J Kleyn, RG Snyman, S Kolisi, P-S du Toit, J Wiese.
Replacements: B Mbonambi, O Nche, V Koch, F Mostert, M van Staden, D Vermeulen, G Williams, D Willemse.
