First Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.

And now, Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika.

Yep, this is definitely a home match for the Boks!

We're just having a minute's applause in memory of the great Courteney Meredith who died last week aged 97.

The British & Irish Lions prop was the last survivor of the Wales team which beat New Zealand in 1953- a feat the country has not repeated since.

Prop Meredith toured South Africa with the Lions in 1955 and played four Tests as part of an all-Wales front-row with Billy Williams and Bryn Meredith.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

For anyone to step away from the opportunity to represent your country, knowing Sam, a thoroughly decent guy, there's a lot of moving parts in international rugby.

But you get your communication right and your alignment right, they are your first and second priorities.

Something has obviously fallen down for Sam to step away from the training camp and the opportunity to be involved.

Image source, Getty Images

This game may only be a few hours down the M4 from Wales but it definitely feels like an away game.

I'd say South African fans are outnumbering the Welsh by four-to-one here already.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Image source, Huw

Warren Gatland believes matches like today's will help his players develop a mental toughness.

Wales have lost their last six Tests and have named an experimental side to play the world champions.

“We have our backs to the wall a little bit this week,” said Gatland.

"I don't see it any different to when I arrived in 2008 and was asked by Roger Lewis (Welsh Rugby Union chief executive) who do you want to play?"

"I said any time we can play a southern hemisphere team we need to jump at that chance.

"That is the way you improve. Not just in rugby but any sport by playing against the best. That is the biggest part of the development and players need to experience that.

"You try and replicate what you can do in training as best as you can, but you want them coming off the field, learning and enjoying it, but also wanting more."

Read more: Gatland urges Wales to be mentally tough

I haven't spoken to Sam, but I've read the article.

Warren [Gatland] has never been somebody who communicates a lot with players.

These days I feel you have to be really detailed with how you deal with players and how you talk with players.

From what's been mentioned in the Daily Mail, Gatland said to Sam Parry, 'thank you for coming to train with the team', but he was named in the 36-man squad in the first place, so that's a bit disrespectful to start with.

Then he had a meeting with the whole squad and said Wales have three strong hookers to compete with South Africa, and of course Sam Parry is training as well.

If you don't deal with players by showing respect, something is going to happen.

Sam has left the squad and since then, Elliott Dee picked up an injury and Efan Daniel has been called up to the squad.

Gatland should look at himself and say 'I was wrong', but unfortunately, the talk is, and what he's saying is, he feels he hasn't done anything wrong and 'the door is open for Sam to talk with me', which is a bit typical of Warren Gatland.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

So the big news overnight from the Wales camp was the revelation that Ospreys hooker Sam Parry had walked out of the squad earlier this week.

Newspaper reports claim he felt "disrespected" by Warren Gatland who is also likely to lose Elliot Dee to injury.

He'll be keeping his fingers crossed nothing happens to Dewi Lake today!

We'll bring you more on the Parry story as it develops today.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Ellis Bevan is the first new cap at scrum-half for four years, such has been the strength in depth at number nine.

But with Tomos Williams injured, Gareth Davies creaking on and Kieran Hardy struggling to make an impact, the door has opened for the 24-year-old Cardiff playmaker.

"He's impressed us in training, the way he has worked, the extras he's done after training," said Warren Gatland.

"He's got a left foot which gives a different kicking option. He's also got a good voice and been really positive about taking feedback from the coaches.

"We see a huge amount of growth in him and we wanted to find out about someone else in that position to give us some more depth."

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Few will give Wales a chance today and we can expect Wales to play as though they have nothing to lose.

That's according to Taine Plumtree who is back on the international stage after 10 months away.

The Scarlets back-row impressed on his two Test appearances against England last summer but injury ruled him out of both the World Cup and Six Nations.

"Facing the Springboks is a challenge, but it is the best time for us to show what we are made of and to test ourselves," said Plumtree.

"I am going into this feeling we have got nothing to lose and hopefully put out a performance that will help us to build into the summer tour.

"The Springboks want to control the game through their pack and we know how physical they can be.

"That is going to be their mindset. Our mindset has to be going up against that and giving it back to them.

"We just want to bring back that real fight that Wales have always had."

It's very odd, leaving Wales in the sun and coming to England in the clouds!

It's a surreal feeling, a fortnight after the season finished that we're watching Wales play South Africa in London.

But I enjoy rugby and I'm looking forward to the game. I'm a bit anxious to be completely honest, looking at the South Africa team.

It's a big challenge but it's still 15 v 15 so we'll see.

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New Springbok captain Pieter-Steph du Toit admits his rivalry with Wales is getting personal.

Du Toit leads the Springboks for only the second time in the absence of the unavailable Siya Kolisi.

The first time was another summer friendly on neutral ground when South Africa lost 22-20 to Wales in Washington in 2018.

But the giant back-row also made his debut against the same opposition.

“I’ve got a special bond with Wales and it feels almost personal," he said.

"I made my debut against them in 2013, was captain for the first time against them and now again the second time I’ve captained the team.

“It’s special to play against them, especially with the respect we have for each other with the way they play and the physicality they bring to the game. That’s something we have to focus on.

"I remember last year, the message from the coaches was that they (Wales) will keep coming at us until the final whistle.

"Even after we scored a third try, rather than walking they were jogging back into position to get straight back at us. They never stop.”

He added: “It’s an honour to captain the team and the pressure will always be there to win when you wear the Springbok jersey.”

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It's a special day for Vincent Koch who wins his 50th cap for South Africa - and he's already got two World Cup titles under his belt.

Oh... and that's on the back of two Champions Cup and Premiership titles with Saracens and a man of the match display for Sharks in this season's European Challenge Cup Final for Sharks against Gloucester.

Some player.

Forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys says it is "exciting" for his inexperienced Wales pack to face world champions South Africa.

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As rugby challenges go, they don't come much bigger than the Springboks second row.

Eben Etzebeth and Franco Mostert are reunited for the first time since beating the All Blacks in the World Cup final.

Between them they have close to 200 caps. Etzebeth alone has 119 - only one less than the entire Wales pack today!

Welsh opposite numbers Matthew Screech and Ben Carter, in contrast, have just 12 caps between them - and only five Test starts.

But Carter insists they will not be overawed.

"It is exciting. They are the world champions so who better to test yourself against?

"I love playing with Screech, he has been a great help to me coming through at the Dragons and I'm looking forward to doing it in the Welsh shirt."

Carter also has a point to prove. His last Test was a 52-16 loss to South Africa last August that ended his World Cup ambition.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales captain Dewi Lake is looking forward to rekindling his rivalry with South Africa hooker Malcolm Marx.

The pair were captured in an iconic photograph taken towards the end of the first Test between Wales and the Springboks in Pretoria in July 2022.

Marx was pointing aggressively at a smiling Lake and Wales team-mate Tommy Reffell.

"I think it was 29-29 at the time," said Lake.

"Emotions were flying and you are feeling the crowd at Loftus [Versfeld Stadium] with 50,000 people there, it was a hostile crowd.

"That's the way I like to play the game, on the edge. That's the way we as a group want to play."

Lake and Marx had both come off the replacements bench with the Wales hooker scoring a try before Springboks gained the late victory with a last-minute penalty.

"We've always had really good battles," said Lake.

"I've got some fond memories of that summer tour in South Africa a couple of years ago."

Read more: Wales captain Lake looks forward to Marx reunion

Warren Gatland explains Wales selections - including the loss of captain Jac Morgan from the summer tour.

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Cardiff scrum-half Ellis Bevan makes his Wales debut in a team captained by hooker Dewi Lake.

Uncapped trio Eddie James, James Ratti and Jacob Beetham are also set to win their first caps from the replacements bench.

Wales' squad HQ in the Vale of Glamorgan has been like Piccadily Circus this week with all the comings and goings.

Ratti was only called up to the squad on Tuesday to act as cover for Wales' second-row injury crisis with Cory Hill unavailable.

Dragons duo Ben Carter and Matthew Screech are the starting locks, while Keiron Assiratti promoted from the bench to a starter after Henry Thomas injured a foot in training.

Cardiff flanker James Botham was only called up on Monday but starts in the back row alongside Taine Plumtree and Aaron Wainwright.

There is a recall for Liam Williams who plays for the first time since the World Cup, following his move to Japan.

Centres Owen Watkin and Mason Grady form a new-look midfield partnership with George North and Nick Tompkins unavailable.

Wales: Cameron Winnett; Liam Williams, Owen Watkin, Mason Grady, Rio Dyer; Sam Costelow, Ellis Bevan; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Keiron Assiratti, Matthew Screech, Ben Carter, Taine Plumtree, James Botham, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Kemsley Mathias, Harri O'Connor, James Ratti, Mackenzie Martin, Gareth Davies, Eddie James, Jacob Beetham.

Image source, Getty Images

South Africa include 10 players who appeared in the World Cup final.

Flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit is captain in the absence of Siya Kolisi because South Africa are missing their Europe-based players.

The Springboks are also without the Bulls players who are playing the United Rugby Championship (URC) final against Glasgow today in Pretoria.

Fly-half Jordan Hendrikse and wing Edwill van der Merwe win their first caps with another two uncapped players, lock Ben-Jason Dixon and utility back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezula on the bench.

Prop Vincent Koch will win his 50th cap, while hooker Malcom Marx returns after recovering from a knee injury suffered in the World Cup.

Five players in the starting side featured in the same positions in the final victory against New Zealand, including second-row pair Eben Etzebeth and Franco Mostert, captain Du Toit, scrum-half Faf de Klerk and centre Jesse Kriel.

Fellow World Cup winners Bongi Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe, Grant Williams and Damian de Allende are replacements.

South Africa: Aphelele Fassi; Edwill van der Merwe, Jesse Kriel, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi; Jordan Hendrikse, Faf de Klerk; Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Pieter-Steph du Toit (capt), Evan Roos.

Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Frans Malherbe, Salmaan Moerat, Ben-Jason Dixon, Grant Williams, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian de Allende.

Image source, Getty Images

Welcome to Twickenham for today's Qatar Airways Cup meeting between Wales and South Africa.

Despite the neutral venue, this counts as a home game for the Springboks and, let's face it, Twickenham would never feel home for Wales!

As has been the theme for much of 2024, this is a very raw Wales team that is taking on the world champions as they prepare for their tour of Australia.

It's not just the venue that is unusual. Today's game takes place at the same time as South Africa side Bulls play in the United Rugby Championship final.

But Rassie Erasmus is back in charge of the Boks who are gearing up for what promises to be a mouthwatering series against Six Nations champions Ireland.

So let's crack on and first, a look at the teams.