Tandy forced to mix and match heading into controversial South Africa clash

THIS Saturday's clash with South Africa falls outside of World Rugby’s designated international window so both sides will be missing some key personnel.

- STEFFAN THOMAS

> Joe Roberts is the one specialist outside centre in the squad now

But unlike Wales the Springboks have phenomenal strength in depth, meaning Steve Tandy’s side face an uphill task to remain competitive, let alone win.

The fact the Welsh Rugby Union have decided to schedule a Test match on the same weekend all four of its professional clubs - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - are playing vitally important United Rugby Championship fixtures has been heavily criticised.

"For me, that South Africa game isn’t worth playing. We're missing that many players against the best team in the world,” former Wales number nine Richie Rees told Scrum V a few weeks ago.

Former Scotland lock Jim Hamilton, who is now a top pundit, labelled it “ridiculous”, while former Cardiff, Neath and Pontypridd outside-half Lee Jarvis called it “madness”.

As a result Tandy is forced to make wholesale changes to his matchday squad.

THINGS are far from ideal in the back-three with Louis Rees-Zammit and Josh Adams unavailable this weekend.

Tandy has seen fit to call up Scarlets man Ellis Mee but it would be a surprise if the 22-year-old was included in the matchday squad to take on the world champions.

Wales were better in the air against the All Blacks but were still second best.

Blair Murray struggled against Argentina and Japan from an aerial perspective but he had his best game last Saturday.

The 23-year-old is a potent attacking weapon and caused New Zealand problems at the Principality Stadium.

His Scarlets teammate Tom Rogers also had a fine game on the wing, becoming the first man to score a hat-trick for Wales against the All Blacks.

But it might still be worth putting Rogers at fullback against the world champions for his aerial prowess with Murray on the wing.