Wales still relishing the prospect of facing Boks

SKIPPER LAKE SAYS PLAYERS NOT AFFECTED BY CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING FINAL AUTUMN SERIES TEST

- PHIL BLANCHE

SKIPPER Dewi Lake insists under-strength Wales are raring to go against South Africa in a fixture that has provoked widespread bemusement throughout Welsh rugby.

Wales are without their 13 England and France-based players at Principality Stadium this afternoon because the game falls outside World Rugby's official Test window.

The Welsh Rugby Union has been heavily criticised for arranging a fixture viewed as a moneymaking exercise and one that could do significant damage to the morale of Steve Tandy's squad.

Wales showed green shoots in last weekend's 52-26 defeat to New Zealand, breaching the All Blacks defence four times and being in the contest until the last 20 minutes.