Talk about a twist of fate! Dewi Lake's injury scare has been silenced, and he's been given the green light to lead Wales against the mighty South Africans this Saturday, 18 July 2026, in Durban. The hooker was limping off the pitch during last weekend's Nations Championship match against Argentina, leaving fans on tenterhooks wondering if he'd be fit for the crunch clash against Steve Borthwick's side. But Tandy has done his homework and Lake has emerged unscathed after two intense training sessions.
Tandy's made six changes to the starting line-up as Wales look to bounce back from that 35-21 defeat in San Juan, and boy, do we have a line-up to get excited about! Louis Rees-Zammit's back on the wing, and Ben Thomas and Max Llewellyn form a new centre partnership that's sure to make some noise. Dan Edwards comes in at fly-half, while Teddy Williams makes his first Test start since last year, partnering Adam Beard in the second row - what a formidable pairing!
The changes are far-reaching, with Joe Hawkins and James Botham relegated to the bench, but what a strong six forwards Tandy's got lined up! Leicester flanker Tommy Reffell makes his long-awaited return to international action after being overlooked for previous campaigns under Tandy. And let's not forget Ospreys scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams, who joins the match-day squad for the first time this season.
Wales are battling injuries in the second row, with Ben Carter sidelined and Taine Plumtree nursing a knock - it's a real crisis point! But Freddie Thomas is on standby, having flown out to South Africa just a couple of days ago as cover. The absence of Carter and Dafydd Jenkins means Wales' resources are stretched thin, but they'll be hoping to put in a performance that'll get them back on track.
Tandy's said it all: "We've made some changes to the starting side. We're coming to the end of the season, and we've had a big bit of travel. Some boys deserve an opportunity, and this is their chance to freshen up the team." He added, "South Africa are world champions with loads of depth - for us, it's about putting our game out there. We want to see a real physical edge." This one's going to be a cracker, folks! Wales' final game of the season against a Springboks side that comprehensively thumped them 73-0 in Cardiff last November is sure to go down to the wire.