Many have already written off Wales’ chances of defeating reigning world champions South Africa when the two sides meet at Twickenham on Saturday.

South Africa come into the game having not played since they retained the Webb Ellis trophy in their 12-11 win against New Zealand at the Stade de France.

Wales on the other hand lost all five games during the Six Nations, ‘winning’ a first wooden spoon since 2003.

The game also falls outside the international window, clashing with the URC final between Bulls and Glasgow, meaning both sides will be under strength.

Wales are without Six Nations captain Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tshiunza who are both at Exeter, whilst Dillon Lewis, Archie Griffin, Nick Tompkins and Tommy Reffell are also unavailable as they are based in England.

Additionally, Will Rowlands, Alex Mann, Ryan Elias and Josh Adams have been rested for this summer whilst Jac Morgan is now set to miss the summer tour with a hamstring injury while Adam Beard, Teddy Williams, Taulupe Faletau, Tomos Williams, Theo Cabango and Joe Roberts are also long-term injuries.

Finally, Sportin Wales co-founder Gareth Anscombe announced he wouldn’t be taking part in the summer tour as he looks to return to fitness ahead of his pending move to Gloucester.

Whilst that list is close to a full XV, their unavailability opens the door for others within the 23.

Wales have four debutants set to appear on Saturday as do the Boks on the other side.

Sportin Wales takes a closer look at the players ready make their international bows.

Ellis Bevan

Bevan is the only starting debutant for Wales, with the Cardiff Rugby scrumhalf set to line up alongside Scarlets playmaker Sam Costelow.

The pair have played together before, having formed a half back partnership for Wales U20s during the 2020 Six Nations, getting memorable wins at England and at home to France.

24-year-old Bevan enjoyed a breakthrough season at Cardiff, starting seven of Cardiff’s final nine games while Tomos Williams was injured.

With Williams set to move to Gloucester next season Bevan could be in with a shout of securing his place as first choice nine at Cardiff long-term.

Bevan’s kicking has improved rapidly this season, with Cardiff not playing much rugby inside their own half and opting to kick, his boot has been a particular area which has become more consistent.

Gatland has repeatedly stated that he’s a fan of Bevan’s ability as a left-footed kicker, in contrast to both other scrumhalf options, Gareth Davies and Kieran Hardy.

Jacob Beetham

Cardiff’s Beetham will wear the number 23 shirt on Saturday and could make his debut off the bench.

Another who featured in the Wales U20s team during the 2020 Six Nations, Beetham is a true utility back, capable of playing at fullback, inside centre, on the wing or at 10.

Beetham made his Cardiff debut at the Cardiff Arms Park against Toulouse in 2021 when the home team were shorn of several of their front-line players due to travel complications surrounding the pandemic.

Whilst he received a red card during that game, he has gone from strength to strength this season having missed most of last season with an ACL injury.

He has enjoyed a battle for the 15 shirt at Cardiff with clubmate and now Wales fullback Cam Winnett, but started six times, including a run of four starts either side of the Six Nations.

Beetham will be there to cover 10 and back three on Saturday having played fly-half as a youngster and is a capable goalkicker particularly from range.

Eddie James

Lining up alongside Beetham in the 22 shirt on the bench is Scarlets’ James.

A former Ysgol Bro Myrddin student, James first rose to prominence in the Wales U20’s team, starting four out of five gams of the 2022 Six Nations.

At 6”4 and more than 16st, you’d be forgiven for thinking he is simply a crash ball centre option but there is a lot more subtlety to his game.

Possessing subtle hands, he has the ability to draw defenders and put others through a hole as he did for Joe Roberts’ try against Munster, whilst he also showcased a range of passing during an impressive showing at Judgement Day despite receiving a yellow card.

Perhaps not the quickest, James is an out-and-out 12 and many at Parc y Scarlets have tipped him for a bright future with the region as they look to the future with the likes of Scott Williams and Jonathan Davies leaving this summer.

James Ratti

Many were surprised to see Ratti’s name in the 23 for Wales v South Africa, unaware that he had been called up as a late replacement for the injured Jac Morgan on Tuesday morning.

Ratti has been called up to Wales’ squad before, having been selected in Wayne Pivac’s final Six Nations squad back in 2022.

That was on the back of an impressive season with Cardiff at eight, but Ratti ended the tournament without making his debut, behind Aaron Wainwright, Ross Moriarty and Taulupe Faletau.

Ratti made the move to Ospreys at the beginning of this season and has played primarily as a second row or six this season.

His season is almost split in two, making his first six starts at blindside flanker before moving to the second row, with 10 of his next 12 starts appearing in the 4 shirt whilst Ospreys endured an injury crisis with James Fender, Adam Beard and Rhys Davies all unavailable for long periods.

At 6”5 he is a useful lineout option, but it’s his carrying where he has offered a lot for the Ospreys this season, often used to get the hard yards to improve speed of ball.

South Africa Debutants

On the other side, the ‘home’ side on Saturday will also have four players set to make their debuts.

Lions pair Jordan Hendrikse and Edwill van der Merwe will line up at flyhalf and on the wing respectively on Saturday.

Hendrikse is rumoured to be on his way from the Lions to Sharks next season, while Dragons fans will have painful memories of the scrum-capped van der Merwe after the winger scored a brace against them in December.

With quick lightning feet, he will be a huge test for Wales defensively although he may be on the end of a high-ball peppering from Wales, particularly against Wales’ kick-chaser in-chief Rio Dyer.

South Africa will also look to unleash Ben-Jason Dixon and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu for the first time from the bench.

Dixon is a second row or blindside flanker born in the South African mould. 6”6 and around 17st, the Stormers player will be sure to make his presence known when he appears.

22-year-old Feinberg-Mngomezulu is one who has been outlined for stardom for several years.

Capable of playing at 10 or at inside centre, Feinberg-Mngomezulu won consecutive player of the match awards at the beginning of the season for Stormers including a try-scoring display against Scarlets.

Additionally, he scored twice in a six-minute cameo against Dragons in May.

That’s not where the Welsh connections stop however, he was once a student at Llandovery College during an exchange programme, playing alongside the likes of Scarlets’ Archie Hughes.