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The show will go on as promised. Despite speculation that the match was under jeopardy, Wales will play South Africa at Washington DC’s RFK Stadium on Saturday afternoon. As the match falls outside the official June test window neither side will be at full strength but both feature an array of domestic talent with all fighting for a spot at next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Headlining the Welsh team will be three British & Irish Lions, including the only two England-based players in the squad though each will return to Wales next season. Gloucester loose forward Ross Moriarty gets the call at No8 while Northampton winger George North has been named at outside center for just the fourth time in his test career.
Cardiff Blues flanker Ellis Jenkins will captain the side with Lions tourist Cory Hill vice-captain in the second row. He will partner the vastly experienced Bradley Davies with Cardiff lock Seb Davies named on the blindside flank in a physical back row trio.
Exciting scrumhalf Tomos Williams makes his test debut alongside Blues teammate Gareth Anscombe, and lanky Scarlets outside back Tom Prydie wins his first test cap since June 2013. Dragons back row Aaron Wainwright is set to make the jump into test rugby in only his first full season of senior rugby.
Springboks coach Johan Erasmus has meanwhile opted for a host of new names with seven players to make their test bows in the run-on side and another six uncapped players on the bench. Pieter-Steph du Toit leads the side for the first time in the absence of newly-named skipper Siya Kolisi.
Other experienced forwards include 2011 World Cup hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle and blindside flanker Oupa Mohojé. World Sevens Series star Kwagga Smith is primed for his debut on the openside flank after impressing in Super Rugby with the Lions, while Cheetahs fan-favorite Ox Nche wins his first cap at loosehead prop pushing Steven Kitshoff to the bench.
Elton Jantjies directs an inexperienced but exciting backline that also contains Bulls star Jesse Kriel in the midfield. Breakout Sharks winger Makazole Mapimpi is named on the left wing with two imposing three-quarters in André Esterhuizen and Travis Ismaiel starting at inside center and right wing respectively. The mercurial Curwin Bosch wins his second cap at fullback.
Other starters to debut are Bulls lock Jason Jenkins and his teammate Ivan van Zyl at scrumhalf. Waiting on the bench are hooker Akker van der Merwe, giant Sharks prop Thomas du Toit, Lions sceond row Marvin Orie, Stormers loose forward Sikhumbuzo Notshe, scrumhalf Embrose Papier, and Sharks flyhalf Robert du Preez.
Wales have won three of the last four contests against South Africa since ending a 16-game losing streak in November 2014. After winning three of five games in the Six Nations Warren Gatland’s charges will see the inexperienced Springbok side as ready for the taking ahead of their two-match trip to Argentina.
The South Africans meanwhile having nothing to lose, and with so many new names keen to impress are set to take the shackles off and play expansive rugby. Expect a competitive match with Wales favorites on experience but the Boks more than capable of taking an upset with the firepower at their disposal.
Kickoff is set for 5pm local time, 2pm Pacific. Viewers in the USA can watch live exclusively on FloRugby, while those in Canada have access to a live stream on TSN Go.
WALES
1 Nicky Smith, 2 Elliot Dee, 3 Dillon Lewis, 4 Cory Hill, 5 Bradley Davies, 6 Seb Davies, 7 Ellis Jenkins (capt.), 8 Ross Moriarty, 9 Tomos Williams, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 11 Steff Evans, 12 Owen Watkin, 13 George North, 14 Tom Prydie, 15 Hallam Amos
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Adam Beard, 20 Aaron Wainwright, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Rhys Patchell, 23 Hadleigh Parkes
SOUTH AFRICA
1 Ox Nche, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 3 Wilco Louw, 4 Jason Jenkins, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (capt.), 6 Kwagga Smith, 7 Oupa Mohojé, 8 Daniel du Preez, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 10 Elton Jantjies, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 André Esterhuizen, 13 Jesse Kriel, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 15 Curwin Bosch
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Robert du Preez, 23 Warrick Gelant
Date: Saturday, June 2
Venue: RFK Stadium, Washington DC
Kickoff: 17:00 local (14:00 Pacific)
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistants: Alex Ruiz (FFR) & Frank Murphy (IRFU)
TMO: David Grashoff (RFU)
Broadcasts: FloRugby, TSN Go
