Steve Tandy has made six changes to his Wales team to face South Africa in Durban on Saturday, with captain Dewi Lake passed fit to start.

Lake was taken off during last weekend’s 35-21 defeat to Argentina and was a doubt for this week’s match.

Tandy hinted that there would be some changes for what is Wales’ fourth game in four weeks, with Louis Rees-Zammit, Ben Thomas, Dan Edwards, and Max Llewellyn coming into a reshuffled back line.

In the forward pack, the front row keep their places, while Teddy Williams replaces Dragons captain Ben Carter, who is injured.

Alex Mann rotates in for James Botham who is selected on the bench with a 6-2 split.

Centre and back-up flyhalf Joe Hawkins also drops to the bench, while Freddie Thomas, who was only flown out this week, takes the number 19 shirt due to knocks for Carter and Taine Plumtree.

Dragons hooker Elliot Dee had been flown out as cover for Lake, who Wales say has come through two training sessions.

Lake, 27, is in line to continue his record as the only Wales player to start every Test under Tandy.

Following the 39-24 win against Fiji, Rees-Zammit and Edwards were left out of the starting side against Argentina for Scarlets duo Ellis Mee and Sam Costelow, who in turn have been omitted from the squad against South Africa.

Ospreys scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams comes in for team-mate Kieran Hardy on the bench.

Reffell is set to make his first international appearance for a year, and his first selection by Tandy, after being left out of the previous two campaigns.

“We’ve made some changes to the starting side,” said Tandy.

“It’s coming to the end of the season and we’ve had a big bit of travel. Some boys deserve an opportunity and it’s a chance to freshen up the team.”

Wales have won three and lost eight of the 11 internationals so far in Tandy’s first season in charge, with a victory and defeat so far in the Nations Championship.

“South Africa are world champions and have loads of depth,” said Tandy.

“For us, it’s about putting our game out there. We want to see a real physical edge. We’re going up against probably the most physical team in the world.

“It’s a great opportunity to test ourselves against the best team in the world.”

Team News

Wales

Blair Murray; Louis Rees-Zammit, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams; Dan Edwards, Tomos Williams; Rhys Carre, Dewi Lake (capt), Dillon Lewis, Teddy Williams, Adam Beard, Alex Mann, Jac Morgan, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements

Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith, Ben Warren, Freddie Thomas, Tommy Reffell, James Botham, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Joe Hawkins.

South Africa

Aphelele Fassi; Jaco Williams, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Vusi Moyo, Corbus Reinach; Gerhard Steenekamp, Malcolm Marx, Carlu Sadie; Corbus Wiese, Ruben van Heerden; Paul de Villiers, Pieter-Steph du Toit (capt), Jasper Wiese.

Replacements

Andre-Hugo Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Wilco Louw, Ben-Jason Dixon, Marco van Staden, Herschel Jantjies, Manie Libbok, Damian Willemse.

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