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.
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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.
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