Wales have received a double boost allowing coach Wayne Pivac to stick with a largely unchanged starting lineup for the decisive third Test against the Springboks in Cape Town on Saturday.
Captain Dan Bigger and tighthead prop Dillon Lewis have been cleared to play and there is consequently only one change to the starting lineup that made history in Bloemfontein last week with Wales’ first win against the Springboks on South African soil.
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Josh Adams, who went over for his 20th Wales try in the second Test off the bench, returns to the starting lineup in place of the injured Alex Cuthbert.
Wales will once again be captained by Biggar, the flyhalf having overcome a shoulder niggle to retain his place in the starting XV. And Lewis was also passed fit after a solid performance in Bloemfontein.
There is just one further change on the bench, as Owen Watkin is called up to offer backline cover.
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The game at Cape Town Stadium will be special for George North, starting alongside Nick Tompkins in the centres for the third time in a row, who will overtake Stephen Jones’ record as the most capped Welsh men’s international back of all time this weekend – with 105 Wales appearances.
North made his debut for Wales in 2010 in a match against South Africa in Cardiff, scoring two tries on that occasion. Only Alun Wyn Jones (152) – named among Wales’ replacements – and defence coach Gethin Jenkins (129) have more Wales caps.
“Most people had written us off before we left Wales and to be in this position with an opportunity to win this series, it’s a great position for us to be in,” said coach Pivac. “It’s fantastic that there’s something to play for in this Test match.
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“However, it’s been a tough training week because we’ve been a bit banged up as you’d expect after two very physical Test matches. So, to have the majority of the squad that we arrived on these shores with available is a pretty good state to be in and we are really looking forward to the weekend.”
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Wales – 15 Liam Williams, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 George North, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Biggar (c), 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Dillon Lewis, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Gareth Thomas.
Subs: 16 Dewi Lake, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Alun Wyn Jones, 20 Josh Navidi, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Owen Watkin.
Photo: Michael Steele/2019 Getty Images
