Flanker Taine Plumtree says Wales will adopt a “nothing-to-lose” mentality against world champions South Africa as he prepares for his Test match return on Saturday.
Plumtree is back on the international stage after 10 months away, gaining a starting place against the Springboks at Twickenham.
It has been a testing period for the 24-year-old, who suffered a shoulder injury last summer that effectively ended his World Cup hopes, before missing the Six Nations with similar problems.
The Scarlets back row impressed on his two previous international appearances in World Cup warm-up games against England.
Plumtree is highly regarded by the Wales management and now has a golden opportunity to showcase his quality, with the Springboks on the immediate agenda followed by a two-Test Australia tour.
An inexperienced Wales side have been written off in most quarters this weekend, with Warren Gatland’s team having lost their last six games and finishing bottom of the Six Nations for the first time in 20 years.
“Facing the Springboks is going to be a challenge, but it is the best time for us as a team to show what we are made of and to test ourselves,” said Plumtree.
“I am going into this week feeling we have got nothing to lose and hopefully put out a performance that will help us to build into the summer tour.
“Any team that plays against the Springboks knows they want to control the game through their pack and 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.
“I think the only way is forward for us. We just want to bring back that real fight that Wales have always had.”
