Wales pick uncapped former junior captain Reffell to front Boks at Loftus

Wales coach Wayne Pivac has named his team for Saturday's Test against the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

Tommy Reffell will win his first senior Wales cap after being selected at openside flanker. The 23-year-old is a former Wales under-18 and under-20 captain and will become the 1 178th Welsh Test international.

Dan Lydiate starts at blindside flanker, his first international appearance since the match against Ireland in the 2021 Six Nations. Taulupe Faletau (No 8) completes the loose trio.

"Tommy Reffell is a player we've been watching for some time now. He's been in very good form with Leicester Tigers and he's match fit - which is important with our squad not having played a lot of rugby recently. We think it's the right time for him and what a great debut to have at Loftus Versfeld," Pivac said in a WRU statement.

Tîm Cymru ?? Your Wales men’s team for the 1st Test this SaturdayLlongyfarchiadau Tommy Reffell ????FULL STORY | ??https://t.co/ptnAuFWhgT pic.twitter.com/nSAUOA0JhD

Elsewhere, the experienced George North also features for the first time since the 2021 Six Nations. He pairs up with Nick Tompkins in midfield.

Kieran Hardy is named scrumhalf, his sixth start in a Wales jersey, with captain Dan Biggar winning his 101st cap at flyhalf.

Hooker Ryan Elias makes his ninth outing in a Wales XV this season. He is joined in the front row by Gareth Thomas (loosehead prop) and Dillon Lewis (tighthead prop). Will Rowlands and Adam Beard are selected to start in the second row for the sixth time together.

In the back three, Liam Williams features fullback, while Louis Rees-Zammit and Josh Adams are on the wings.

Rhys Carre features in a Wales match-day 23 for the first time this year, while Dewi Lake and Tomas