There’s an old selection adage that suggests you should always change a losing team.
But what happens if the losing side in question narrowly finishes on the wrong side of the scoreboard?
Does the same apply then?
Wayne Pivac has answered that poser with a tweak or two for Wales’ clash with South Africa in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Read more : Wales team news v South Africa as Alex Cuthbert ousts Josh Adams and Sam Wainwright set for debut
There’s one change in the starting XV and a couple of alterations on the bench.
South Africa, of course, have ripped up the side that beat Wales 32-29 in the first Test.
Different courses for different coaches.
MARK ORDERS takes a look at the Wales team that Pivac has chosen.
Cuthbert in for Adams
The Ospreys wing missed out on selection for the first Test after the hamstring injury he picked up towards the end of the regular season. He also had what Wales termed a “back niggle” last week.
But the big man has impressed before in South Africa, with a dazzling performance in the series opener in the republic in 2014, marked by an 80-metre try.
He was also arguably Wales’ top-performing wing in this year’s Six Nations.
On the occasion of his 50th cap for his country, against England, he made 17 runs for 146 metres, often leaving defenders in his vapour stream.
Wayne Pivac will want him to produce that kind of form against South Africa. You can read more about Cuthbert signing a new deal to stay in Welsh rugby here.
At 6ft 6in and 16st 6lb, he packs a physical presence and Wales will look to him to improve their ability in the air, with Handre Pollard known to be a kicking fly-half.
But on a good day Cuthbert can be a threat with ball in hand, too.
It’s all about bringing him into play.
Josh Adams? He drops to the bench after a quiet game in last Saturday’s series opener when little ball came his way.
If he gets on, he will want to make a mark.
Dewi Lake still in reserve
“Lake looks the genuine article. He is big, powerful and seems to have the right attitude. I like the way he plays in opposition faces and he took his try well at Loftus Versfeld.”
So said Graham Price in his column for WalesOnline after the game in South Africa’s capital last Saturday.
For the avoidance of doubt, Price knows a bit about front-row play.
The Wales, Lions and Pontypool RFC great suggested bringing in Lake for Ryan Elias at hooker, but Pivac has opted not to go down that route.
Ironically, Lake doing so well in his role off the bench may have affected his chances of starting. After all, if something is working, why try to fix it?
Indeed, Pivac has today said: "He’s doing a great job off the bench. The fine arts of the game in the scrum, Ryan perhaps has the edge."
The other way of looking at it is that he was Wales’ best player when included in the starting team for the final Six Nations game of the campaign, against Italy in March, standing out when pretty much everyone else struggled.
That effort underlined he's made of the right stuff.
Elias will not let anyone down and he relishes the physical challenge himself.
But, make no mistake, Lake is pushing hard for the No. 2 jersey.
Wyn Jones on bench
Little wonder Wales announced this week they were not considering Wyn Jones as tighthead cover for Dillon Lewis.
How could he fill that role when he was being lined up as loosehead cover?
The west Walian has had a difficult year after returning from the Lions series with his star high in the sky.
Injuries haven’t helped and he played only four games for the Scarlets in the United Rugby Championship in 2021-22, but he was a Test Lion 12 months ago and the assumption is he is still capable of banging in big performances.
Wales will look to him to counter the threat of Vincent Koch in the second half this weekend.
Jones is good enough to deliver, but he needs the tighthead side of the Welsh scrum to be stable.
Sam’s the man
“Listen, if I don’t back myself then no one will. I know I’ve had a lot of smoke, and a lot of heat with this selection. I was as shocked as everyone else.”
So said Sam Wainwright last month after hearing of his tour call-up as a replacement for the injured Leon Brown.
“For me personally there’ll be no bad to come out of this tour. At the end of the day we are coming up against the best pack in the world, and either way I’ll get something good out of it.
“I don’t want a tough lesson but if that’s what comes then so be it but the important thing is I take the good out of that, and use it to get better. I’ll bring a strong work rate.
“I just want to get stuck in, and I love the contact, and the physicality. The aggression and physicality that I bring can hopefully benefit Wales."
Wayne Pivac and Jonathan Humphreys would have enjoyed those quotes, a youngster talking positively ahead of a demanding tour.
Let’s see what happens.
All things considered, Wainwright probably wouldn’t have banked on winning a Wales cap this season — of course he wouldn't — but circumstances have conspired to propel him into a matchday Test squad before he has properly established himself as a club regular.
He’s on the bench in Bloemfontein, shadowing Dillon Lewis.
His learning curve is set to not so much rise gently as shoot up sharply.
But he’s part of an outstanding club in Saracens and his experience with them should at least stand him in good stead.
All will surely wish him well ahead of the biggest test of his life.
No change in the back row
The only possible change here might have been at blindside because Tommy Reffell at No. 7 and Taulupe Faletau at No. 8 were on a different level five days ago.
But switching things around would have been tough on Dan Lydiate.
The big man adds balance and ballast to the breakaway unit.
He relishes the heavy lifting and downed a number of big South African forwards with uncompromising tackling last weekend.
Josh Navidi will get his chance as a replacement.
But Lydiate has credit in the bank after letting no-one down.
He deserves another opportunity.
Read next:
Barry John's talented brother dies as tributes paid to 'club legend'
Nigel Owens says 'textbook' moment should never have been punished and Farrell gesture revealed
Adam Jones praises 'brilliant' Wales prop and lauds Pivac selection masterstroke
