Gatland 'building depth' against Boks
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Warren Gatland has named his Wales team to play South Africa in a World Cup warm-up match on Saturday.
Alex Cuthbert, selected on the wing, and Johnny Williams, named at centre, make their first appearances in the build-up to the global showpiece – as does Kieran Hardy who starts at scrumhalf.
Teddy Williams and Cai Evans, named among the replacements for this fixture, are in line to win their first senior Wales caps on the weekend.
Jac Morgan, who starts at openside flank, will captain the side for the second time.
Dan Lydiate (blindside flank) and Aaron Wainwright (No.8) join Morgan in the Wales back row.
Elliot Dee (hooker) starts his first match this August, with Corey Domachowski (loosehead prop) and Keiron Assiratti (tighthead prop) winning their second caps and completing the Wales front row.
Ben Carter and Will Rowlands pair up in the second row.
Dan Biggar (flyhalf) is named in the starting XV after two appearances off the bench against England.
Mason Grady makes his first start this August, partnering Johnny Williams in the Wales midfield.
Liam Williams is named at fullback for the second consecutive match. Rio Dyer completes the Wales starting line-up.
Among the replacements, Tomos Williams and Max Llewellyn are alongside Evans as the backline cover.
Sam Parry, Nicky Smith and Henry Thomas are the Wales front row cover and Taine Basham, who was not a confirmed concussion following completion of all three stages of the head injury assessment protocol, provides the back row cover.
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“Preparations have gone well,” Gatland said.
“We’re really pleased with the whole squad.
“We’re trying to build some depth within the team and there’s been a great atmosphere.
“In the first couple of games what was really pleasing for me was the physicality we brought and the way we defended.
“There are still things for us to work on in terms of being much more accurate.
“There’s been a lot of learning from that second England game and hopefully we put that into practice against South Africa.
“There’s another opportunity for this group of 23 players to put their hand up before we select the world cup squad.”
Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Mason Grady, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Jac Morgan (captain), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Will Rowlands, 4 Ben Carter, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Corey Domachowski.
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Teddy Williams, 20 Taine Basham, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Max Llewellyn, 23 Cai Evans.
Date: Saturday, August 19
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 15.15 (16.15 SA time; 14.15 GMT)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Chris Busby (Ireland), Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ireland)
