Alex Cuthbert replaces Josh Adams on wing in only Wales change for second Test vs South Africa
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac makes one change to his starting XV as his side look to respond to last week's last-gasp 32-29 defeat to South Africa; watch the second Test between Wales and Springboks live on Sky Sports Action from 3.30pm on Saturday (4.05pm kick-off)
By Michael Cantillon
Last Updated: 07/07/22 1:40pm
Wales have made one change to the side to face South Africa in their second Test on Saturday, live on Sky Sports, with Alex Cuthbert coming onto the left wing.
Cuthbert starts in place of Josh Adams, who moves down to the bench as Owen Watkin drops out of the squad, while Alun Wyn Jones is named on the bench again.
Also among the replacements, Saracens tighthead prop Sam Wainwright - in for injured Tomas Francis, whose tour is over due to concussion - is on the bench and set to make his Test debut.
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Elsewhere, Wales are as they were from last week, when they very nearly pulled off a major upset against South Africa at Loftus Versfeld, leading 18-3 at half-time, and levelling the game at 29-29 late on despite only having 13 men.
Full-back Liam Williams and wing Louis Rees-Zammit - scorer of two tries last week - start alongside Cuthbert in the back-three, while George North and Nick Tompkins combine at centre again.
Dan Biggar captains the side again from fly-half, with the impressive Kieran Hardy remaining at scrum-half ahead of Tomos Williams - who is on the bench.
In the forwards, loosehead Gareth Thomas, hooker Ryan Elias, tighthead Dillon Lewis and second rows Will Rowlands and Adam Beard make up an unchanged tight-five.
In the back row, Dan Lydiate starts again at blindside flanker, Tommy Reffell at openside a week on from his Test debut, and Taulupe Faletau at No 8.
In prop Wyn Jones, second row Jones, back-row Josh Navidi, and wing Josh Adams, Wales have four British and Irish Lions to call upon in reserve on the bench.
Hooker Dewi Lake, tighthead Wainwright, scrum-half Williams and fly-half Gareth Anscombe complete the squad.
"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," Wales head coach 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."
Team News
Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 George North, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Alex Cuthbert, 10 Dan Biggar (c), 9 Kieran Hardy; 1 Gareth Thomas, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Dillon Lewis, 4 Will Rowlands, 5 Adam Beard, 6 Dan Lydiate, 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Taulupe Faletau
Replacements: 16 Dewi Lake, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Alun Wyn Jones, 20 Josh Navidi, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Josh Adams.
South Africa: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Aphelele Fassi, 10 Handre Pollard (c), 9 Jaden Hendrikse; 1 Thomas du Toit, 2 Joseph Dweba, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Marvin Orie, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Evan Roos.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Rynhardt Elstadt, 21 Deon Fourie, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Damian Willemse.
Bumper July of rugby on Sky Sports
As well as showing Wales in South Africa this summer, Sky Sports will show England's three-Test tour of Australia, Ireland's five-match tour of New Zealand, and Scotland's three-Test tour of Argentina.
Saturday, July 9
New Zealand vs Ireland - live on Sky Sports Action from 7:30am (kick-off at 8:05am)
Australia vs England - live on Sky Sports Action from 10:15am (kick-off at 10:55am)
South Africa vs Wales - live on Sky Sports Action from 3:30pm (kick-off at 4:05pm)
Argentina vs Scotland - live on Sky Sports Action from 7:30pm (kick-off at 8:10pm)
Tuesday, July 12
Maori All Blacks vs Ireland - live on Sky Sports Action from 8am (kick off is at 8.05am)
Saturday, July 16
New Zealand vs Ireland - live on Sky Sports Action from 7:30am (kick-off at 8:05am)
Australia vs England - live on Sky Sports Action from 10:15am (kick-off at 10:55am)
South Africa vs Wales - live on Sky Sports Action from 3:30pm (kick-off at 4:05pm)
Argentina vs Scotland - live on Sky Sports Action from 7:30pm (kick-off at 8:10pm)
