Good news for the home team is that they welcome back heavy hitters in the form of Dan Biggar and Louis Rees-Zammit for this clash against South Africa who dumped them out of the World Cup almost two years ago.
The Springboks beat Wales 19-16 in 2019 before going on to beat England in the final to claim the World Cup trophy and there is no doubt that they will want to get revenge and bounce back from their defeat to New Zealand last Saturday.
For the Springboks, they will be looking to come good in Cardiff as they have lost their last four fixtures at the home of Welsh rugby and they last tasted victory when Jean de Villiers and company triumphed 24-15 in 2013.
Wales VS South Africa
Wales have made a number of changes to their starting side to face South Africa on Saturday.
In some areas, injuries have forced the hand of coach Wayne Pivac as captain Alun Wyn Jones and flanker Ross Moriarty are suffering long-term shoulder injuries they suffered against New Zealand in the autumn opener.
Elsewhere, Rhys Carre comes in for Wyn Jones at loose-head prop, Nick Tompkins replace Johnny Williams at centre, Louis Rees-Zammit has come in on the wing and Dan Biggar is back in the No. 10 shirt.
Johnny McNicholl retains the full-back jersey while Liam Williams is named among the replacements after appendix surgery.
Bradley Roberts is set to make his debut off the bench against the country of his birth just a week after his shock call-up.
Will Griff John is finally set to make his debut after being named in the matchday 23 to face Scotland in the 2020 Six Nations before the match was eventually called off due to Covid.
For South Africa, Damian Willemse, Jesse Kriel and Herschel Jantjies will start in Cardiff as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber made four changes to his match day squad that defeated the All Blacks.
Willemse, who has 14 Test caps, will earn his fourth start in the green and gold when he runs out at fullback, while it will be Jantjies’ third Test in the No 9 jersey as he pairs up with Handré Pollard in the halfback combination.
Kriel, who starts at right wing, will earn his 49th cap.
Willemse comes in for Willie le Roux in a rotational switch and Jantjies takes over from Faf de Klerk, who was ruled out of the squad due to a hip flexor injury.
Kriel replaces Sbu Nkosi, who is yet to travel to the UK as he awaits the necessary paperwork.
Jantjies’ promotion to the starting line-up sees Cobus Reinach being drafted onto the replacements bench in the only change among the reserves.
Pick: South Africa Wins by 0.28 at BetXChange
