Winger Caryl James and centre Ceri Redman replace Elen Evans and Clare Flowers respectively in the backs while Caryl Thomas comes in for the suspended Jennifer Davies at prop while hooker Lowri Harries gets the nod ahead of Rhian Bowden after scoring on her debut in the opening game of the tournament.
It will be James’s and Thomas’s first start of the tournament while Redman and Harries both appeared against the Wallaroos as replacements.
James was delighted to discover that she would be earning her sixth cap for Wales. “There is such strong competition for the wing berths in this squad,” she said. “I was really disappointed to miss out on the first game against Australia but I am really excited about getting my chance against South Africa.
“With the changes we’ve made to the starting XV, hopefully we can take the game to South Africa and get plenty of ball out in the backs as we like running with the ball.”
Midfielder Redman echoed those sentiments, when saying: “We’ve put the opening defeat to Australia firmly behind us now. We are only looking forward. The final score-line didn’t really do us justice. We were in that game for long periods but unfortunately a couple of basic mistakes cost us dearly.
“We’ve got a game plan for the South African game and we have to stick to it. I can’t see any reason why we can’t get our campaign back on track with a victory against South Africa,” she added.
Wales vs South Africa – Rugby Women’s World Cup
Tuesday 24 August, Midday, Surrey Sports Park
15 Non Evans
14 Caryl James
13 Mellissa Berry
12 Ceri Redman
11 Mared Evans
10 Naomi Thomas
9 Laura Prosser
1 Caryl Thomas
2 Lowri Harries
3 Catrin Edwards
4 Gemma Hallett
5 Rachel Taylor
6 Catrina Nicholas
7 Sioned Harries
8 Jamie Kift (capt)
Replacements: 16 Rhian Bowden 17 Shona Powell-Hughes 18 Lisa Newton 19 Clare Flowers 20 Amy Day 21 Awen Thomas 22 Elen Evans
