Wales to spring selection surprises against Boks?

According to WalesOnline, Pivac is poised for a surprise selection in the front row by opting to bring Rhys Carre into the front row rather than British & Irish Lions prop Wyn Jones.

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Jones was the first-choice prop preferred by Lions coach Warren Gatland in the series that was won 2-1 by South Africa earlier this year, but the burly front ranker is expected to make way for Carre when Wales announce their team to face the Boks.

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Captain Alun Wyn Jones is unavailable due to a shoulder injury that forced him off early on against the All Blacks recently, with Will Rowlands set to partner Adam Beard at lock.

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Another Lions squad member, Liam Williams, is also expected to miss the cut when Pivac unveils his team, with Johnny McNicholl likely to remain at fullback, while hooker Ken Owens is not expected to recover in time after battling with a back problem.

Notably, reports also suggest Saracens’ Nick Tompkins is set to be preferred to Johnny Williams in the midfield.

Elsewhere in the backline, Tomas Williams and Dan Biggar could form the halfback pairing, with speedster Louis Rees-Zammit in line to return to the right wing berth.

Wales (possible starting XV): 15 J McNicholl (Scarlets), 14 L Rees-Zammit (Gloucester), 13 N Tompkins (Saracens), 12 J Davies (Scarlets), 11 J Adams (Cardiff), 10 D Biggar (Northampton), 9 T Williams (Cardiff), 8 A Wainwright (Dragons), 7 T Basham (Dragons), 6 E Jenkins (Cardiff), 5 W Rowlands (Dragons), 4 A Beard (Ospreys), 3 T Francis (Ospreys), 2 R Elias (Scarlets), 1 R Carre (Cardiff).

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