Reffell set for Wales debut against world champions
LEICESTER Tigers flanker Tommy Reffell will make his Wales debut in tomorrow’s Test series opener against world champions South Africa in Pretoria, writes PA Sport.
Uncapped Tigers stars Jack van Poortvliet and Guy Porter could also make their international debuts after being named among the replacements for England’s first Test against Australia tomorrow.
Bridgend-born Reffell, who helped Tigers win this season’s Gallagher Premiership title at Twickenham, will line up in Pretoria alongside back-row colleagues Dan Lydiate and Taulupe Faletau.
On 23-year-old Reffell’s selection, Wales head coach Wayne Pivac said: “Tommy is a player we have been watching for some time now.
“He has been in very good form with Leicester Tigers, and he is match-fit, which is important with our squad not having played a lot of rugby recently.
“We think it is the right time for him, and what a great debut to have at Loftus Versfeld.”
Reffell will be opposite his teammate, Leicester Tigers’ number eight Jasper Wiese, who starts for the Springboks.
The Tigers forward, who scored a try in Leicester’s Premiership final victory over Saracens on June 18, features in a powerful Springboks side skippered by Siya Kolisi.
Kolisi is among nine players that started South Africa’s 23-18 victory over Wales in Cardiff last November.
Wales have never beaten the Springboks in South Africa, losing all 10 previous encounters, and they tackle a three-Test series on the back of a shock home defeat against Italy in the Six Nations.
But Springboks head coach
Jacques Nienaber says they are expecting a “hard grind” Test series opener against Wales.
Nienaber said: “Wales have been training together for a few weeks now and we have no doubt that they will give everything against us on Saturday.
“They are an experienced squad and they have top-class players in their ranks, with some of them having represented the British and Irish Lions last year, so we are expecting a hard grind of a Test.”
Meanwhile, six Leicester Tigers players have been included in the England matchday squad for the opening Test against Australia in Perth.
Outgoing Tigers skipper Ellis Genge and full-back Freddie Steward are in the starting line-up, with scrum-half van Poortvliet and centre Porter on the replacements bench alongside prop Joe Heyes and back-rower Ollie Chessum.
For the first time since 2018, Owen Farrell has been overlooked as skipper with head coach Eddie Jones opting for Courtney Lawes after the Northampton flanker impressed in the role while deputising during the autumn and Six Nations.
Danny Care’s remarkable international comeback will be complete when, at the age of 35, he wins his 85th cap – four years after his last outing ended when he rowed with Jones.
Care’s dynamism and speed of thought is viewed as a natural fit for the hard surface at Optus Stadium and he links up with Harlequins halfback partner Marcus Smith.
Versatile back Joe Cokanasiga, who joins Tigers next season, is also in the England team.