KEY POINTS:
Wales coach Warren Gatland is trying his hand at - horror of horrors - rotation while South African coach Peter de Villiers is experimenting with the Springbok scrum in the second rugby test between the two countries overnight.
New Welsh prop Rhys Thomas, one of several surprise selections by head coach Gatland, emigrated from South Africa in his late teens to pursue a rugby career in Newport, the home town of his father, and has gradually worked his way up the pecking order.
He will be making his third start for a Welsh team who have spent the past week soul-searching after last week's 43-17 defeat in Bloemfontein.
Thomas has been picked ahead of Adam Jones at tighthead prop in a surprise move by Gatland, considering the scrum was one of Wales' strong points in the first Test. Gatland believes that Thomas is more mobile than Jones, which might help Wales at the high altitude of Pretoria and on a wide pitch.
We're looking for more mobility from the tight five, and Rhys may be able to provide that," Gatland said.
That theory is also one reason for James Hook being at fullback and Jamie Roberts finding himself at centre, rather than No 15, where he had a mixed game last week.
To complete the rejig, Gatland has called in Richard Hibbard at hooker and given a first start to Gloucester's Gareth Delve in the back row.
Gatland has defended his selection, saying that it is a chance for him to judge the depth of his squad after their Six Nations success.
Talk of a famous first win against the Springboks in South Africa was silenced by the sobering events of last week. The Welsh squad were so disappointed that they voted to abandon an after-match drink.
Their attitude impressed Gatland, who is hoping for a "significantly improved performance".
He said: "I'm very proud of the way the players have responded to the defeat. We have taken a lot of criticism and know we let ourselves down. That was evident on Saturday evening when we went for a meal after the game.
"They made the call that they wouldn't have a drink, instead heading back to the hotel for an early night to prepare themselves for Monday. From a coaching point of view, that's a very mature response from a group of players that felt they'd let themselves and their country down."
Gatland can only look enviously at South Africa's reshuffled team. They have brought in the mighty Victor Matfield at lock, halfback Ricky Januarie and prop BJ Botha.
The one new cap is Tendai 'The Beast' Mtawarira, who will be facing Thomas.
Wales' visit, despite their status as Grand Slam champions, has failed to excite South Africa's rugby public.
A disappointing crowd watched last week's game in Bloemfontein and another below-capacity gathering of around 30,000 was expected.
Wales' poor display in the first game is partly to blame.
The Springboks have hardly helped local organisers by hiding themselves away in the plush Johannesburg suburb of Sandton, rather than banging the drum in Pretoria itself.
The world champions are focused on improving their scrummaging as they seek to wrap up the series. Coach De Villiers demonstrated his displeasure with the scrum by making two of his four changes up front.
"We set a good platform in the first test and I was especially happy with our defence. We want to build on that and the scrums are obviously the area we are unhappy with," De Villiers said.
