Tomos Williams is in the mix to start at scrum-half for Wales in Saturday’s series decider against South Africa, with Dillon Lewis expected to be passed fit amid a wait on injured captain Dan Biggar.
It’s Kieran Hardy who has worn No 9 in the first two Tests against the Springboks, but now Cardiff’s Williams could move up from the bench, having come on as a sub in Pretoria and Bloemfontein. He would bring 35 caps of experience to the role, while it could also point to Wales taking a more expansive, ball-in-hand approach down at sea level in Cape Town, given his basketball skills and quick feet.
There is continuing uncertainty over who will be the other half-back, with Biggar having been forced off with a shoulder problem last weekend to be replaced by Gareth Anscombe, who landed the late touchline conversion to secure a historic 13-12 victory.
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It’s understood Wales are giving Biggar as much time as possible to see if he can prove his fitness, which is likely to be tested out at training on Thursday morning ahead of the team announcement. If he fails to make it, then Anscombe will be the No 10.
Prop Lewis also had to leave the field in Bloemfontein after injuring his left elbow. That raised the possibility of Wales going into the final Test with two rookie tightheads - last Saturday’s debutant Sam Wainwright and the uncapped Harri O’Connor - with Tomas Francis already sidelined. But it looks as though the 40-cap Lewis has been recovering well and the hope is he will be able to start.
There will be a change on the wing, with Josh Adams starting in place of Alex Cuthbert who has been ruled out with shoulder damage. Adams scored the crucial try that paved the way for Anscombe’s match-winning conversion in the second Test, after coming on as a sub for Cuthbert.
Possible Wales team: Liam Williams; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar/Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Ryan Elias, Dillon Lewis, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Dan Lydiate, Tommy Reffell, Taulupe Faletau.
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