Two things can be true. You can appreciate the quality in the South Africa side that has been named for the second Test this weekend while concluding that it completely devalues the series.
Head coach Jacques Nienaber has made 14 changes to the starting XV that won 32-29 in one of the liveliest Test matches in recent times last weekend. In completely tearing up his squad for the second Test in Bloemfontein, he has ripped almost 200 Test caps out of the side.
Inspirational leader Siya Kolisi? Nowhere to be seen. Cheslin Kolbe? Sitting in the stands. World class front row of Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Frans Malherbe? With their feet up. It is a crying shame.
READ MORE: South Africa rip up entire team to play Wales and make 14 changes
Is it a side capable of beating Wales? Absolutely. Is it South Africa's best XV? No. Let's clear that up before we continue.
From South Africa's point of view, you can see the value in it. One thing that is abundantly clear when you spend a bit of time questioning their management is that when they have a plan - be it style of play or team selection - they will stick to it steadfastly. This is clearly a selection with one eye on next year's Rugby World Cup.
The general sense among Bok fans is that it is an exciting group of form players. Seven of the 23 featured in the URC final and the captain, Handre Pollard, just won the Top 14 with Montpellier. There is also Evan Roos, who cleaned up at the URC's end of season awards, and former World Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit. Kurt-Lee Arendse, one of six debutants, can beat you in a phone box.
Again, though, two things can be true at the same time. Nienaber has named a very formidable side that is absolutely capable of beating Wales but it is tantamount to an 'A' team. Wales did not come here to face second string sides, they came here for three cracks at the world champions. That they have been robbed of at least one of those opportunities will be difficult to stomach.
That is particularly so in light of what happened at Loftus Versfeld last Saturday. It was a crackling affair that had niggle, a hostile atmosphere, the sharpest of edges and plenty of points. Ultimately, it ended in heartbreak for Wales, who are still chasing a historic victory on these shores, but the beauty of touring is that you are supposed to have another opportunity next week.
They will still face green jerseys this Saturday, but it is not the same side. Tommy Reffell will have wanted to see Kolisi again, Dan Biggar will have wanted another crack at, quite frankly, anybody who was on the pitch last week. But the narrative has been sucked out of the Test series because those head-to-head rivalries will not grow.
Of course, there is also the narrative that Wales will be desperately craving revenge, having let a 15-point lead slip in Pretoria, succumbing to a Damian Willemse penalty in the final kick of the match. But if they do end up on the right side of the result in Bloemfontein, in light of the team they'll be facing, will it really feel like revenge?
Perhaps there is a painful reality in this selection for Wales and one that may well serve as motivation for the players.
It must be recognised that Wales are not averse to rotating their squad. We see it time and time again in the autumn, usually against tier two nations, when Pivac - and Warren Gatland before him - feels comfortable throwing in inexperienced players without compromising the outcome.
It seems that South Africa view Wales through the same lens.
What do you make of the South Africa decision? Have your say in the comments below
Some will point to the Boks doing this previously, against Australia in 2019 and Argentina in 2021. The context there, though, is that the 2019 game was essentially a warm-up for the Rugby World Cup as it came during the truncated Rugby Championship two months before the global gathering and the clash against Los Pumas came a week after a gruelling Lions series.
This selection may well be exciting for South African fans because it gives them a look at form players who have not really had a chance at Test level yet. But from a Welsh perspective, it detracts from the spectacle of the whole tour.
It also puts Pivac's side in a sticky situation. If they win, it will come with the caveat that victory came against a largely second-string side. If they lose, then they'll be subjected to the ridicule for the same reason.
Wales travelled to South Africa in search of a historic first victory over the all-conquering world champion Springboks in their own backyard but, by and large, they'll face their understudies.
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