Wales will take on South Africa without Sam Warburton, but with the rest of the team that beat Argentina. The Wales captain has been ruled out with a shoulder injury picked up in training and his place in the back row goes to Dan Lydiate. Otherwise, it is a reversal to the side that beat the Pumas with Liam Williams back on the wing and Leigh Halfpenny swapped to full-back. Jamie Roberts – who was dropped by interim coach Rob Howley after the opening November defeat to Australia – is back on the bench with Scott Williams partnering Jonathan Davies at centre. Sam Davies, who came on against Australia at outside-half to win his first cap, is among the replacements with Gareth Anscombe left out of the squad. “We were pleased with the win against Argentina so have gone with virtually the same team for South Africa,” said Howley. “We’ve made just one change in the back-row. Sam (Warburton) picked up a bit of a stinger injury on Tuesday and isn’t quite ready so Dan comes in. Dan played particularly well against Japan so we are pleased he gets the opportunity again. “It’s good to have Taulupe back in the squad, he will add a good impact from the bench. We are delighted with Sam, he showed individual composure and accuracy last weekend and he gets another opportunity on the bench, as he did against Australia. “There is the tinge of disappointment in terms of performance against Japan and we want to put that right. Not only are we looking to win this weekend we want a performance to go with it.” Luke Charteris and Alun Wyn Jones are named in the second-row with Lydiate lining up alongside Justin Tipuric and Ross Moriarty in the back-row. Gareth Davies and Dan Biggar are once against named at half-back with Scarlets duo Scott Williams and Jonathan Davies in the midfield. The same back-three that faced Argentina is named with Leigh Halfpenny at full-back and George North and Liam Williams on the wings. On the bench, Scott Baldwin, Nicky Smith and Samson Lee make up the front-row replacements. Cory Hill will look to win his third cap this weekend and is joined by Faleatu who completes the forward line-up. Lloyd Williams, Davies and Jamie Roberts provide the backline cover. |
| WALES TEAM TO PLAY SOUTH AFRICA: 15. Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon) (65 Caps) 14. George North (Northampton Saints) (64 Caps) 13. Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) (58 Caps) 12. Scott Williams (Scarlets) (40 Caps) 11. Liam Williams (Scarlets) (37 Caps) 10. Dan Biggar (Ospreys) (50 Caps) 9. Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (21 Caps) 1. Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues) (128 Caps) (CAPTAIN) 2. Ken Owens (Scarlets) (44 Caps) 3. Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (16 Caps) 4. Luke Charteris (Bath Rugby) (70 Caps) 5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (104 Caps) 6. Dan Lydiate (Ospreys) (59 Caps) 7. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (45 Caps) 8. Ross Moriarty (Gloucester) (11 Caps) REPLACEMENTS: RELEASED PLAYERS Cardiff Blues: Ospreys: Scarlets: Newport Gwent Dragons: *Indicates additional players who have been training with the Wales squad |
Jamie Roberts. Pic: Getty Images.