Wales have brought in further reinforcements ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship match against South Africa in Durban. Following the 35-21 defeat to Argentina in San Juan on Saturday night, Steve Tandy's side have made the long trip from Argentina to South Africa at the start of this week - their second long-haul journey in the space of a week.
New arrivals bolster squad
Gloucester second-row/back-row hybrid Freddie Thomas has been added to Tandy's squad alongside Dragons hooker Elliot Dee - with both players arriving in Durban on Tuesday. Having named a 48-man training squad, Tandy cut that down to 33 ahead of the start of the Nations Championship. Tandy had always been open to flying in players direct to South Africa, given the massive travel demands on his squad - playing Test matches in three different continents across successive weekends.
Coach explains selection strategy
"It's a little bit different because it was harder probably this time where we have a home game, so you've got a wider squad," said Tandy ahead of the Fiji match earlier this month. "Whereas if you were away for three tests, you'd probably take a 38 or 39-man squad. So it's been difficult for some of those boys (that were cut), but then probably it's easier for them to fly straight to South Africa than it is to go to Argentina and go there. We're taking a World Cup-sized squad, with 33 or so players."
Tandy had namechecked Thomas, who made his Wales debut in November 2024, as a likely option to fly out to South Africa - given he covers back-row and second-row. The Wales coach included just three specialist second-rows in his squad - with Taine Plumtree covering the position.
Injury concerns for captain
WalesOnline already reported on Monday that Dee was being flown out to Durban to provide cover at hooker following injury to captain Dewi Lake. Lake is a doubt for Saturday's final summer Test with a groin issue, with an update on his fitness likely to emerge later on Tuesday. Ryan Elias could start in his place, with Evan Lloyd also in line for his first Wales appearance since the 2025 Six Nations were Lake not to feature.
Lloyd is one of seven Welsh players in Tandy's 33-man squad yet to feature for Wales in the Nations Championship so far. Gareth Thomas, Sam Wainwright, Tommy Reffell, Reuben Morgan-Williams and Ben Thomas are the other players not to be involved so far, with Tandy likely to bring at least some of them into the matchday squad this week.
