Wales have rolled the selection dice and doubled down on physicality as they prepare to face double world champions South Africa in the Nations Championship.

With Dewi Lake passed fit, and Steve Tandy making six changes made to the side that were defeat by Argentina last weekend, the Wales head coach needs his squad to be firing on all cylinders for an “awesome opportunity” against the best in the world.

Tandy is under no illusions about the scale of the task against the Springboks on their own turf, but there is a clear sense of intent in the way Wales have sought both freshness and impact throughout the matchday 23.

“It’s going to be an awesome opportunity for us to pitch up against South Africa and test ourselves against the best team in the world in their own home,” Tandy said.

“Finishing off our season with a game against the world champions is outstanding for us, and another opportunity to experience different things.”

Six changes give this Welsh line-up a different complexion without losing its core. In midfield, Tandy has backed a new centre partnership in Ben Thomas and Max Llewellyn despite the impressive form of the established Joe Hawkins and Eddie James.

“The combination of Joe and Ed has been excellent for us,” he admitted.

“But we feel Max and Ben deserve an opportunity. Max did really well for us in the autumn and unfortunately got injured, and then Ben has responded really well since being left out from the England game. So yes, it’s exciting for us to give them that opportunity.”

With a long domestic season behind many of the squad and a heavy travel schedule in this Nations Championship window, Wales are targeting energy and intensity as much as experience.

“Like we said last week, there’s lots of travel and obviously it’s the back end of the season for us, so it’s a good opportunity for us to see a few different combinations,” Tandy explained.

“Our back row, we feel we’ve got depth there.

“Manny I thought was excellent against Fiji, but he hadn’t played a lot of minutes. And then obviously Jim Botham I thought really played well off the bench against Fiji. So we’ve got a good opportunity and the impression on the back row is strong.”

There is also a significant return in the selection of lock Teddy Williams, whose return from a serious injury has been carefully managed over the last year.

“It’s brilliant for Teddy, how hard he’s worked,” Tandy said.

“It was a horrific injury, the way he’s come back, trained, played for Cardiff, but the way he’s trained and obviously playing against the Barbarians, I thought he had a real impact when he came off the bench. So it’s a big moment and very well deserved.”

Confirmation that captain Dewi Lake has been passed fit after a knock in the previous game against Argentina is a crucial boost for Wales, particularly given the selection of six forwards among the replacements.

Tandy’s praise of his ever-present hooker underlined the importance of Lake’s presence to this evolving side.

“He’s tough, and he’s been brilliant for us,” Tandy said.

“Where he’s led the team, his performances have been excellent as well, and he’s at the forefront of everything. Then he’s supported behind with Ryan Elias, who’s coming off the bench and doing really well too. So we’re really pleased that Dewi’s come through fit.”

The 6–2 split on the bench is a clear sign of where Wales expect this contest to be decided.

“It’s the back end of the season for us,” Tandy said.

“We know it was a physical encounter last week. Lots of travel. It’s definitely going to be a physical encounter at the weekend. So it’s making sure we’ve got freshness to come off the bench and add a lot of energy and physicality.”

The key theme of the build-up is no secret. South Africa’s reputation as the most physically imposing side in world rugby is well established, and Tandy did not play it down.

“It’s pretty easy to answer,” he said when asked what Wales must get right to have a chance.

“The physicality piece. You’re probably going up against the most physical team in the world. We have to be mentally and physically prepared for that challenge.”

However, Tandy stressed that Wales will not simply look to meet the Boks head-on without a tactical plan.

“There’s lots of nuance around how you defend,” he explained. “It’s working in twos, how you go about that, but also the speed and the physicality.

“We’ve got to be sharper than we were last weekend to get into better positions, because you know you’re not going to match South Africa probably front door.

Amid the talk of collisions and power, there is also a longer-term thread to this fixture. Tandy views the Nations Championship clash as a measuring stick for a young group that has been steadily growing across the past three campaigns.

“The Six Nations was an excellent learning first for me to get to know the players,” he said.

“I thought there were lots of green shoots in the autumn, and then the Six Nations, I thought every game we got better, and then that finished off with a win against Italy.

“I thought we played really well against Scotland, and then Ireland away I thought we pitched up physically, which we’re going to have to do this weekend. Then backing up the Italy game beating Fiji.

“We were disappointed last week with our performance, which was not up to the expectations that we feel we’re building as a team internally, but we’re lucky that we’ve got another game to finish off against South Africa, to try and put our game on the field.”

The relentless travel schedule and end-of-season fatigue could easily have worn this squad down, but Tandy believes the opposite has happened.

“The boys have been brilliant,” he said. “The environment, I think everyone can’t wait to come in every day.

“Travelling has been different, you’d probably like to spend a little bit more time in the countries, but it’s bonding. You see the boys all together day after day, different countries, but you see the bond around the team room.

“They’re a special group in that regard. It’s the back end of the season, but they’ve still got energy to represent the country in the way they want.”

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