Wales make six changes for Nations Championship match against Springboks

By Ama Serwah — 17 July 2026 — 4 min read

Wales head coach Steve Tandy has made six alterations to his starting lineup for the upcoming Nations Championship fixture against the Springboks. The match, scheduled for Saturday, July 18, will take place at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban.

This encounter marks the final game of the 2025-26 season for Wales. The team enters this fixture following a 35-21 defeat to Los Pumas in Argentina, which came after a 39-24 victory over Fiji in the previous week. The last time Wales faced South Africa, the Springboks secured a 73-0 win. Wales will be looking to achieve only their second-ever victory over South Africa in the Republic, with their previous win being 13-12 in Bloemfontein in 2022.

Team Changes and Midfield Selection

Among the changes, Dewi Lake will once again captain Wales, leading an unchanged front row featuring Rhys Carre at loosehead and Dillon Lewis at tighthead. In the second row, Teddy Williams earns his first start of the Nations Championship, partnering with Adam Beard. Alex Mann returns to the number six jersey, replacing James Botham, with Jac Morgan on the other flank and Aaron Wainwright at number eight. Mann‘s return is notable as he was involved in an incident with Eben Etzebeth during last year’s meeting in Cardiff.

The half-back pairing sees Dan Edwards stepping in for Sam Costelow at fly-half, with Tomos Williams named as his partner. Tandy has also opted for a new centre combination, with Ben Thomas replacing Joe Hawkins at inside centre and Max Llewellyn taking over from Eddie James. This selection means Hawkins will be on the bench, providing cover at Kings Park.

This particular midfield pairing of Ben Thomas and Max Llewellyn was also chosen by Tandy for his first two games in charge last summer, against Argentina and Japan in Cardiff. Since then, the head coach has used five different starting centre partnerships. The Scarlets combination of Joe Hawkins and Eddie James had a seven-game run in the side, but Wales will conclude the 2025-26 season with Thomas and Llewellyn.

Former Wales and Lions centre Jonathan Davies commented on the midfield selections, stating that the centre partnership has not performed as hoped. He noted missed tackles and defensive gaps that have allowed opposing teams to gain ground. Davies expressed a preference for Eddie James at 12 and Max Llewellyn at 13, highlighting James‘s ball-playing ability. However, Tandy has made his decision, giving Thomas and Llewellyn another opportunity against the Springboks‘ pairing of Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende.

Wing and Bench Selections

On the wings, Louis Rees-Zammit has been elevated from the bench to start on the right, replacing Ellis Mee. Josh Adams retains his position on the left wing, and Blair Murray continues at full-back. The bench for Wales will feature a 6-2 split, with Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith, and Ben Warren as front-row replacements. Freddie Thomas will cover the second row, while Tommy Reffell and James Botham provide back-row cover. The replacement backs will be Reuben Morgan-Williams and Joe Hawkins.

Tandy explained the changes, stating that they are due to the end of the season, extensive travel, and the desire to give some players an opportunity while freshening up the team. He emphasized the challenge of facing the Springboks, describing them as world champions with significant depth and likely the most physical team globally. Tandy stressed the importance of Wales bringing a strong physical edge to the game.

The rotation at fly-half also continues, with Dan Edwards returning to the starting lineup after Sam Costelow‘s recent appearance in Argentina. Edwards, from Ospreys, has started in 10 of 12 internationals this season, while Scarlets‘ Costelow had impressed before an injury against Scotland and then facing the Pumas. Former Wales fly-half Gareth Anscombe, who worked under Matt Sherratt at Cardiff, suggested that Sherratt, who shapes Wales‘ attack, favors a second ball-player at 12. Anscombe also noted the difficulty for fly-halves when there is frequent chopping and changing in selection, highlighting the need for consistent game time to develop decision-making and accuracy.