Captain Dewi Lake is officially in the starting lineup for Wales against South Africa in Durban this Saturday, a shocker after he hobbled off last weekend against Argentina and was a major doubt for this game. Head coach Steve Tandy must be breathing a huge sigh of relief, because Lake is the only Wales player who has started every Test under Tandy, and he’s clearly a huge part of their plan. He’s 27 and has apparently powered through two training sessions to get here. Seriously, how clutch is that?
Lake Returns Amidst a Revamped Squad
The hooker's return is just one piece of a totally reshuffled lineup. Wales is making six changes from the side that lost 35-21 to Argentina. New faces are everywhere, with Louis Rees-Zammit, Ben Thomas, Max Llewellyn, Dan Edwards, Teddy Williams, and Alex Mann all getting the nod to start. We're talking about a brand-new center combination with Thomas and Llewellyn linking up in the midfield. On the flip side, Joe Hawkins and James Botham are heading to the bench. It’s a huge moment for Tommy Reffell, too, who’s making his first international appearance in a year and his first selection by Tandy. Plus, Freddie Thomas, who literally just flew out to South Africa as injury cover a couple of days ago, is already on the 23-man squad. Talk about a whirlwind.Freshening Up for a World Champion Challenge
Coach Tandy summed up the changes perfectly, saying, "We've made some changes to the starting side. It's coming to the end of the season and we've had a big bit of travel. Some boys deserve an opportunity and it's a chance to freshen up the team." This team desperately needs it, especially since they're without their entire Six Nations lock pairing. Ben Carter is sidelined, and Dafydd Jenkins is out recovering from a shoulder operation. Cardiff lock Teddy Williams, who will partner Adam Beard, is stepping up for his first Test start in a year. The stakes? They are absolutely massive. Wales has only won three and lost eight of their 11 internationals under Tandy so far. They are up against the world champions, South Africa, a team that absolutely crushed Tandy’s side 73-0 back in November 2025. This isn't just another game, it's a shot at redemption for a squad that's been through the wringer.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.