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Wales Online

Sport

Ben James

South Africa v Wales player ratings as six Welshmen edge rivals in 'second string' Springboks team

Springboks Springbok Wales Boks South Africa Alex Cuthbert Andre Esterhuizen Dan Biggar Eben Etzebeth Handre Pollard

South Africa and Wales are taking very different approaches for the second Test in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

While Wayne Pivac has remained consistent in selection, the world champions have ripped up their team-sheet and picked pretty much an entirely new side. Some, including the great Gareth Edwards, reckon the Springboks' approach has devalued the contest.

But despite the wholesale changes, the world champions still boast a team made up of individual quality and form players even if it raises questions over how things will click.

Many feel Wales have a better chance against a so-called second-string Springboks outfit. But do they? We assess how the two sides compare:

Warrick Gelant 7.5 v 8 Liam Williams

The first of many individual threats on the ball, Gelant typifies what makes this Springboks selection so intriguing. A dangerous runner with ball-in-hand and perhaps South Africa's form option at full-back, he perhaps won't offer the Boks the attacking structure that Willie le Roux or Damian Willemse bring to South Africa's phase play.

As for Williams, he remains a world-class full-back who will once again be key to Wales getting on top in the aerial battle.

Kurt-Lee Arendse 7 v 7.5 Alex Cuthbert

You couldn't really ask for two more different wings. Debutant Arendse is quite similar to the man he replaces, Cheslin Kolbe, with his elusive style of running. Not the biggest, but he's got a wicked step and has enough power to palm off would-be tacklers when he's shifted their balance.

As for Cuthbert, he's enjoyed a fine return to the Welsh jersey. His performance against England earlier this year was perhaps his best for Wales alongside the 2014 tour of South Africa. He'll bring his height to the aerial game, while he'll likely get through a lot of carries.

Jesse Kriel 7 v 7.5 George North

Kriel has been there and done it for the Boks. He's not the flashiest, but he'll likely act as the glue in an otherwise inexperienced backline.

North boasts plenty of experience as he'll become Wales' most-capped back this weekend. Last Saturday marked a fairly low-key return to Test rugby after long-term injury. He'll be hoping to make more of an impression this weekend.

Andre Esterhuizen 8 v 7 Nick Tompkins

It's been a while since Esterhuizen ran out for the Springboks, but, having just scooped the Players' Player of the Year in England, there's an argument to be made that he's better than the current holder of the 12 jersey, Damian de Allende. The Harlequins centre possesses many impressive qualities, but his physicality will be perhaps the biggest asset on the weekend.

Tompkins, Wales' swiss army knife in midfield, will have little fear in facing Esterhuizen, mind. When the two have met in the Premiership, the Saracens star - while obviously not boasting the same explosive power as his South African counterpart - has yet to shirk from the challenge.

Aphelele Fassi 7.5 v 8 Loius Rees-Zammit

Completing South Africa's threatening back-three is the Sharks wing, who has played a lot of his club rugby at full-back. He's another who is in fine form at domestic level and is backed to have a big future in the Springboks jersey.

Rees-Zammit had his first bump in the road at Test level earlier this year. Last Saturday was quite a response. Pace to burn and ready to pound on any opportunity that comes his way, there's a chance that this more exciting Boks team could hand him a chance or two more as well.

Handre Pollard 8 v 8 Dan Biggar

How South Africa could have done with Pollard last week? That's certainly been the conversations taking place after Elton Jantjies' first-half struggles. Captaining the side, the 2019 World Cup winner, who also just won the Top14 with Montpellier, will marshal the Boks' backline and bring the accuracy that was at times lacking in their kicking game.

Wales captain Biggar has had more than his fair share of battles with Pollard - with the pair also set to be rivals in the Midlands when the South African arrives at Leicester next season. Biggar's qualities aren't always appreciated, but he'll bring that, and a whole heap of determination, to proceedings.

Jaden Hendrickse 7 v 7 Kieran Hardy

Former Springbok scrum-half Neil de Kock has credited Hendrickse with being "incredibly athletic, powerful and possessing plenty of endurance". He's also got a deft boot as he displayed during the URC season, but the challenge at Test level will be proving he's a starter rather than just an impact player.

The same charge could arguably be levelled at Hardy. Last weekend was perhaps his best performance in a Wales jersey. Get his kicking game on point again and it could go some way to Wales getting on top.

Thomas du Toit 7.5 v 7 Dillon Lewis

Granted, he's not Ox Nche but Thomas du Toit is a fine player in his own right. Having been named in the URC Dream Team this season, he'll be desperate to show there's more than just six world-class front-rowers in South Africa.

Lewis stood up fairly well to the Springbok scrum last week. Despite being driven back at times, he managed not to haemorrhage penalties - albeit in a game with few scrums. The onus now is on following that up.

Joseph Dweba 7 v 7 Ryan Elias

Part of the South Africa A team that defeated the Lions in Cape Town last year, this will be just Dweba's second cap. An explosive ball-carrier, he'll be looking to force his way up the admittedly stacked hooking pecking order in South Africa.

Many are calling for Dewi Lake to start, but Elias continues to keep his head down and work hard. He's proven himself to be a fine Test player despite the critics and is doing little to deserve a demotion.

Trevor Nyakane 8 v 7 Gareth Thomas

With 50-odd caps, Nyakane's quality is not in doubt. Anyone who saw the tighthead cause problems for the Lions pack last year when forced to pack down on the loosehead should realise that.

So it'll be another testing one for Ospreys prop Thomas, who is really growing into Test rugby. He's shown so far that he's not too fazed by such matters though.

Eben Etzebeth 9 v 8 Will Rowlands

The sole survivor of last week's team, Etzebeth has been one of the world's best for a decade now. Winning his 99th cap this weekend, the prospect of setting up a whitewash for his century in Cape Town will be an irresistible one.

Rowlands' stock continues to rise after another impressive outing. He still does the grunt work expected of him, but last week saw a bit more of his dynamic side in space. We've probably not seen that since his debut against France in 2020.

Marvin Orie 6 v 7 Adam Beard

Ospreys supporters might remember Orie for a short spell in Swansea on loan, while he's just won the URC with the Stormers. A decent partner for Etzebeth, but he's obviously no Lood de Jager.

Beard will have been pleased with how he managed to neutralise South Africa's mauls in the first-half in Pretoria. Things went a little awry after the break, but the Ospreys lock will take confidence that he can unsettle this new-look pack.

Marcell Coetzee 8 v 7 Dan Lydiate

Back in the Springbok jersey for the first time in three years, it's hard to say Coetzee doesn't deserve his recall. Anyone who watched him for the Bulls against Leinster in the URC semi-final would understand just how good he has been recently.

As for Lydiate, the mid Walian did what he always does. Brought good line speed and tackled everything in front of him. 11 years after bringing the chop tackle to the wider world against South Africa, he's still going strong.

Pieter-Steph du Toit 9 v 7 Tommy Reffell

The 2019 World Player of the Year, du Toit was a big loss for the Springboks last week. But, on song, he's a one-man counter-rucking machine, capable of destroying opposition ball at will.

Against him, Reffell is coming off a fine Test debut - having demonstrated all the hallmarks of a proper openside flanker. This is a different Springbok back-row. Even without World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi, it's arguably a better one. That should prove an interesting challenge for the Leicester Tigers flanker.

Evan Roos 8 v 9 Taulupe Faletau

Is there a more in-form player at the moment than Evan Roos? Scooped just about every United Rugby Championship award available to him this season, but Test rugby will be a step up even for someone of his quality.

As for Faletau, what more is there to say? He's just class personified, doing the right thing time and time again. It doesn't really get better.

Bench: South Africa 8 v Wales 8

It's not quite the bomb squad of last week, but a Springbok front-row replacement trio of Malcolm Marx, Ntuthuko Mchunu and Vincent Koch offer explosiveness, mobility and scrum power in equal measure. The presence of Damian Willemse after an impressive performance last week is another strength.

Wales have a strong bench of their own - only being hampered slightly by the absence of Tomas Francis. Sam Wainwright will have a big test on his debut when he gets on, but the quality of Wyn Jones and Dewi Lake alongside him could make things a little easier for him.