Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Mark Orders

Wales to hand Tommy Reffell debut for South Africa Test as Dan Lydiate and Kieran Hardy start

Kieran Hardy is in line to start at scrum-half for Wales against South Africa in Pretoria on Saturday.

And Dan Lydiate is also expected to feature in Wayne Pivac’s side.

The New Zealander seems likely to name Louis Rees-Zammit on one wing with Liam Williams at full-back and Josh Adams on the other flank.

Read more: 'Shameful' incident in Ireland v Maori All Blacks game sparks outrage

The selectors were still finalising the lock positions with Adam Beard and Will Rowlands favourites to figure in the run-on side, while Tommy Reffell is being tipped for a Wales debut.

Hardy didn’t start at all during the Six Nations, but he had a fine game off the bench against France in opposition to Antoine Dupont and was never less than lively against England.

Now he seems likely to partner Dan Biggar in the first game of Wales’ daunting three-Test assignment in the republic.

Lydiate is tipped to join him in the starting line-up, with the hard-hitting Osprey in the frame for his robust defence and all-round physicality. A recall would see the 34-year-old in the Wales team for the first time since an injury-hit outing against Ireland in the opening match of the 2021 Six Nations.

It seems likely that turnover specialist Reffell will make his bow at Test level.

The question for Wayne Pivac was whether to start him or introduce him from the bench.

It is known Wales’ coach has been impressed with the tough Pencoed product in training. Handing him a start would mean potentially leaving Josh Navidi on the bench.

Teaming up Beard and Rowlands again would mean a probable bench spot for former skipper Alun Wyn Jones, who started against Italy in the Six Nations.

Pivac also has to mull over how to combat South Africa’s so-called front-row bomb squad amid a debate over which props should start and who should be held in reserve to combat the Springbok bench brigade which includes Steven Kitshoff and Vincent Koch.

Biggar will lead the team from fly-half.

READ NEXT...

Wales U20s give first start to 'phenomenal' schoolboy Morgan Morse as coaches blown away

Gareth Anscombe meets new-born son in plane video call after team-mate found out first

New Welsh rugby 'monster' is already bigger than George North and has a Wales international brother

Ireland stunned by Maori All Blacks as New Zealand tour starts with defeat

Maori All Blacks v Ireland haka moment leaves viewers stunned

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.