Wounded Wales tackle new-look Boks in Bloemfontein

A new-look Springbok side will hunt a second Test victory over Wales in the current series when the sides lock horns in Bloemfontein on Saturday. 

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber rang the changes to the side which stuttered to victory in the first Test at Loftus; making a staggering 14 changes to the starting XV, with stalwart lock Eben Etzebeth the only survivor.  

The men in green and gold will be hoping for a vastly improved first half performance after a woeful display in the opening stanza last week before they rolled up their sleeves in the second to orchestrate victory: 

Looking ahead to the game, Nienaber said:   

“We said from the outset that we needed to strike a balance between giving our talented young players an opportunity to show what they can do at international level, and winning. 

“If one looks at the balance between players who have played at this level and those who have performed consistently well for their franchises and clubs, I think we have a nice balance in this squad. 

“A number of these players have been with us for a few seasons, while others travelled with us last season to Australia for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship and the year-end tour, and then there are a few new faces who showed during the season that they have the potential to rise to this level of the game, so we are excited to see what they can do on Saturday. 

“Wales showed last week that they are fighters and can go for the full 80 minutes and we are expecting nothing different from them this week. This will certainly be a good test for the younger players in the group to measure themselves against some of the best players in Wales, some of whom played for the British & Irish Lions, so everyone knows they will be in for a proper Test on Saturday.” 

Meanwhile, Wales boss Wayne Pivac has made just one change to his side from last week which sees Alex Cuthbert replace Josh Adams on the wing. On the bench, 24 year-old Sam Wainwright to a place among the reserves and will be hopeful of his first Test cap.  

"Alex Cuthbert has been training really well. He’s six foot four, good in the air and runs all day. I think there will be plenty of aerial battles," Pivac said. 

"Sam Wainwright has been very excited to join us. From day one he’s been training really well. I know he’s over the moon at his selection in the match day 23 and his family are over here so he’s looking forward to a big day. 

"It was a great atmosphere last week and we’re expecting more of the same from the crowd in Bloemfontein this Saturday."

This from Welsh lock Will Rowlands:

There is a belief amongst us that we can still go on to win the series. We were disappointed after the first Test, but now we’re excited at what we can do this weekend,” he said. 

“I don’t really know what to expect in the second Test, but hopefully it is just more of the same. It really was a fantastic atmosphere in Pretoria and I felt very lucky to be a part of it. 

“I hope it is more of the same because playing in those big rugby cauldrons filled with passionate fans is ultimately what you want to be doing. I am really enjoying my rugby at the moment and long may that continue. 

“It would be nice to win the first game on SA soil and make a bit of history, but from my point of view whenever you play a Test match you take it as it comes. You just want to go out there and win. 

“You don’t think about the history as the game is going on. We want to get a result because we are playing Test rugby and we are here to win.” 

Lively Springbok tighthead Trevor Nyakane is relishing the imminent contest.

“I’m very excited to be back here in Bloemfontein, it has been some time,” he said.

“And as a team we are looking forward to it. Wales are a team that fight fire with fire, and we are aware of that.

“We know it is going to be tough, but just as they are going to do what they do best, we will try to do the same from our side.”

Match Facts

• After their 32-29 victory last weekend, South Africa have now won each of their last three matches against Wales after losing four in a row previously; they have won all 11 of their previous home games against the Welsh.
• South Africa have won four of their last five matches (L1), however, just one of those victories came by a margin more than five points (30-15 v Scotland in November 2021); the Springboks have trailed at half-time in each of their last eight fixtures.
• The Springboks have won nine of their last 11 Tests in South Africa including each of their last four in a row, however they haven’t won more consecutive matches on home soil since 2014 when they won six on the bounce.
• Wales are currently on a run of four straight defeats, they have not lost more in a row since a run of six straight defeats between February and November 2020; however, their last four defeats have each come by margins of four points or fewer.
• Wales have won just two of their last 12 matches away from home (L10), a run which includes losses in each of their last four such matches; they have conceded 20+ points in 10 of their last 12 matches away from home.
• South Africa have made 30 kicks in play per game in Test rugby since the beginning of 2021, more than any other Tier 1 nation in that time and four per game more than Wales (26).
• Wales have made 148 tackles per game in Test rugby since the beginning of 2021, the most by any Tier 1 nation in that time and 46 per game more than South Africa (102).
• 23 of Faf de Klerk’s 91 kicks from hand for South Africa since the beginning of 2021 have been retained, the most by any player from a Tier 1 nation in that time; in fact, of the 24 Tier 1 players to make 50+ kicks in that period, de Klerk has the 2nd best kick retention rate (25%), behind teammate Cobus Reinach (31%) while Handre Pollard sits third (23%).
• South Africa’s Jasper Wiese made 20 carries in the opening Test of this series, the most by any Tier 1 player at the weekend and the most by a Springboks player since October 2017, when Pieter-Steph du Toit made 21 against the All Blacks.
• Dan Biggar (Wales) has scored 32 points across his last two Tests against South Africa (1 con, 9 pen, 1 drop goal), as many as he scored in his four Tests prior against the Springboks.