Wales revert to Thomas-Llewellyn centre partnership for Springboks clash

Wales head coach Steve Tandy has selected Ben Thomas and Max Llewellyn as his centre partnership for Saturday's Nations Championship clash with South Africa in Durban, reverting to the pairing he started with in his first two games in charge.

Since taking over last summer, Tandy has used five different centre combinations. The partnership of Joe Hawkins and Eddie James had seemed settled after a seven-game run, but the coach has opted for the Thomas-Llewellyn axis once again.

Shifting partnerships

Hawkins and James started together in seven matches, including the Six Nations, but Wales have struggled defensively recently, conceding 38 clean breaks in their last two matches against Fiji and Argentina. Former Wales centre Jonathan Davies questioned the decision, suggesting that Eddie James should have been moved to inside centre.

• Thomas and Llewellyn started the first two matches of Tandy's reign against Argentina and Japan.
• Hawkins and James had a seven-game stint together, including the Six Nations.
• Wales face a strong Springbok pairing of Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende.
• Wales have relied heavily on their driving line-out in attack.
• Former players have expressed doubts about the midfield combination.

The match against South Africa presents a major test for Wales' defence, with the Springboks known for their physical approach. A strong performance from the new midfield could solidify their place in the lineup for future matches.