New-look Wales target statement South Africa win

Wales have the history, South Africa have the momentum.

As to which carries the most weight, we will find out on Friday night as the two sides go head-to-head in their WXV Global Series opener at Cardiff Arms Park.

Wales have won six of eight meetings against South Africa, including most recently five years ago when Carys Phillips scored a memorable comeback hat-trick.

But nine consecutive Test losses have seen Wales take a nose dive down the world rankings to 13th.

In contrast, South Africa have climbed to 10th courtesy of making their first ever Rugby World Cup quarter-final last summer and recent victories over Fiji and USA.

Form suggests South Africa should carry the tag of favourites, but considering they are still an emerging team you would have to fancy Wales' experience.

It is a tough one to call but one thing is for sure, we are in for a hugely physical battle with both sides looking to put down a statement win to kick off their campaign.

We have had a couple of years of WXV competitions, but this is the first season of World Rugby's newly launched WXV Global Series.

It brings together the top 12 ranked national teams who play home and away matches throughout September and October.

As part of the series, Wales play South Africa and USA in Cardiff, before travelling to Japan for two further Tests.

The WXV Global Series Challenger runs alongside the main competition and features six emerging nations who play in a three‑week tournament hosted by Hong Kong.

There is no promotion or relegation until 2028, but both tiers feed into qualification for the 2029 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Wales head coach Sean Lynn has told his players to be brave in their rugby decisions, and to back their ability when the stakes are high.

And he has done just the same when it comes to his team selection, moving experienced scrum-half Keira Bevan to fly-half.

It is a gamble, but Lynn says he has been impressed by the 29-year-old's versatility during pre-season and for club side Bristol Bears.

Lynn has also named three debutants in his matchday 23, with former Cardiff City footballer Amy Williams going straight on to the wing after her two-try display in an uncapped Barbarians fixture.

Co-captains Alex Callender and Kate Williams start together for the first time since the World Cup, while Lisa Neumann has been backed to impress in her new role as full-back.

Lynn's opposite numbers, co-coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September, have also made a few changes to the Springboks side which gave the Black Ferns a first-half scare earlier this month.

Felicia Jacobs, who along with captain Babalwa Latsha made her debut in Cardiff five years ago, starts at scrum-half.

Sevens star Maria Tshiremba will win her second cap on the wing after scoring a hat-trick against Fiji on her first Springboks outing.

Maceala Samboya is given the nod at outside centre, while Logan Welman starts at number eight, with another 2021 debut star, Aseza Hele, set to make an impact from the bench.

Wales' run of nine consecutive Test defeats - they beat Barbarians 34-17 in an uncapped game in June - includes losing all five 2026 Six Nations games to finish with a third successive wooden spoon:

South Africa's most recent game was a defeat against the Black Ferns, but before that they won back-to-back Tests against Fiji and shared results with the USA.

Wales co-captain Alex Callender said: "We really need to back ourselves going into this first Test match.

"It's about being brave and not going back to what we're used to. When we've been under the pump a little bit we'd go back to a driving maul when that might actually not be working.

"Ashley Beck (attack coach) has implemented an exciting attack where we want to move the ball and really stay on top of teams.

"We have to back ourselves and be confident in doing it. Things are going to go wrong, it's a rugby game, but it's how we then turn the switch and go again.

"We've got the team to do it."

South Africa captain Babalwa Latsha said: "Last time when we were here, we went down to 29-19 and both teams have seen exponential growth since then.

"We've had a World Cup, we've broken records, both teams, and so we look forward to the game.

"It will be one that's tightly contested, especially around set-pieces because Wales play a similar style of rugby to what we do. We pride ourselves in those aspects, so as a tighthead I look forward to that type of contest."

Asked if South Africa were favourites, Latsha said: "In the greater scheme of things we fall under the group that's chasing or carving up the rankings. We don't want to necessarily label ourselves as underdogs in this particular game because I think we might be evenly yolked, but ultimately it all boils down to what happens at quarter-past seven."

BBC One Wales commentator Gareth Rhys Owen said: "The most eye-catching selection is Wales' most experienced player being asked to operate out of position in arguably the most pivotal position on the field.

"Keira Bevan's move is fascinating. In a Lions year, demonstrating that versatility could ultimately benefit her, but from a Wales perspective the bigger question is whether this is simply a short-term solution or a sign of things to come.

"This is an important block for Wales. They have four matches which all feel potentially winnable, but equally none in which victory can be taken for granted. It gives them an opportunity to change the mood, their fortunes and, perhaps most importantly, the narrative around this team.

"South Africa make for a particularly interesting first test. They are relative newcomers to the international game and even went four years without playing a Test between 2014 and 2018. With the playing population and sporting culture available to them, they have the potential to become a major force in women's rugby. For now, though, they remain a developing side rather than a dominant one.

"That makes this a fascinating test of where Wales are right now — and potentially where they are heading."

Wales: Neumann; Singleton, Keight, Bell, A Williams; Bevan, Lockwood; Davies, K Jones, Tuipulotu, B Metcalfe, Evans, K Williams (co-capt), Callender (co-capt), King.

Replacements: S Williams, G Pyrs, E Jones, Crabb, Aiono, A Joyce, George, De Vera.

South Africa: Dolf; Tshiremba, Samboya, Ngwevu, Malinga; Van Rensburg, Felicia Jacobs; Charlie, Gwala, Latsha, Ubisi, Lochner, Solontsi, Catha Jacobs, Welman.

Replacements: Gunter, Khuzwayo, Mdliki, Mokwai, Hele, Noxeke, Cilliers, Mokone.

Referee: Ella Goldsmith

Assistants: Ruairidh Campbell, Rebecca Piddlesden

TMO: Stefano Penne

FPRO: Paul Haycock