Durban, South Africa: Wales will be looking for their first-ever win against the Springboks on South African soil on Saturday in Durban, the first of a two Test series.
After a compressive 34-12 midweek victory against the Eastern Province Kings, coach Warren Gatland has called on a familiar team to tackle the unsettled ‘Boks.
“We started the tour well on Tuesday against EP Kings but it’s important we go out on Saturday and perform to the level we know we can,” said Gatland.
“A Test series in South Africa is always a tough challenge, but we are excited by it and looking forward to getting out there on Saturday.”
A halfback pairing of Mike Phillips and Dan Biggar will feed a well-established British and Irish Lions-filled backline featuring Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts and George North, who was named on the wing despite reportedly suffering a recent illness.
They will provide a stern defensive test for a Springbok team depleted by injury and self-imposed exile.
The ‘Boks centres corp has been stretched thin by an injury to captain Jean de Villiers and Frans Steyn’s abrupt decision to leave the squad just days before the match.
As such, Heyneke Meyer’s team features six changes from last week’s comprehensive victory against an invitational World XV, many more than he would have liked.
“It’s definitely been the toughest few weeks for me,” said Meyer. “You plan for five months, you can’t wait to get going and then suddenly you get curve balls from all over.
“It’s been tough ... losing some quality centres within the space of a week or a week and half.”
In De Villiers’ absence South Africa will be led by 37-year-old Victor Matfield, who will make his return to Test rugby three years after retiring. Jan Serfontein will replace Steyn.
Meyer has relied heavily on veterans to plug gaps in the side, with Bakkies Botha stepping in to replace injured star Eben Etzebeth.
Prop Gurthro Steenkamp will celebrate half a century of Test caps after he was called back to the front row.
For both sides the match will mark a new phase in preparations for next year’s World Cup.
Wales are coming off a disappointing Six Nations campaign that featured losses against Ireland and England and will look for a historic win to set the tone.
