Warren Gatland makes three changes to the Wales team for the visit of South Africa this weekend, from the side that lost to New Zealand last time out.
George North misses out with an injury, so Liam Williams, who has impressed in cameos this series, gets a start on the wing. The other two changes come in the front row where Gethin Jenkins and Scott Baldwin come in for Paul James and Richard Hibbard respectively, to form the same front row that took on Fiji earlier this month.
Emyr Phillips, Aaron Jarvis, James King and Scott Williams are all included on the bench.
“We have had a couple of changes forced upon us, with the injury to George (North) and with Paul (James) and Richard (Hibbard) returning to their clubs but we have named what we think is a very strong side,” said head coach Warren Gatland.
“Last weekend was a very intense, physical encounter. The guys were disappointed but we have come in this morning, the squad are feeling fresh and the focus is looking ahead to Saturday and the test against the Springboks.
“As coaches we will be asking for the same effort, intensity and desire as last week and we want a repeat of that at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.”
Wales team to play South Africa:
Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Davies (Clermont Auvergne), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Unattached), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, Capt), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements: Emyr Phillips (Scarlets), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Racing Metro), James King (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets).
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
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Sad to see North out, even if he was quiet last week. We will miss him. Liam on the wing? Not keen on that. Great fullback, don’t see him as a wing/finisher though. Bench is extremely light on back 3 cover, especially with JD being light on match practice. I wonder if Tipuric was injured – him being dropped altogether would seem to be big news otherwise?
Very surprised by Tipuric’s ommission
When will Roger the Dodger stop playing these games o/s the established AI window?
Now we face the Boks without 2/3rds of the 1st choice front row with P++shand back on the bench???
Its get worse because that idiot and utter liability Liam Williams is back in the team!!!
Yes nice one Liam…….. thanks for throwing away the win over SA in SA last summer with the last play of the game.
Nice one. Sanjay.
Oh but ‘he’s so competitive’ we are told.
Look at his record, Williams is a total liability for both club and country yellow cards, 2nd yellow cards, red cards……. the guy is an overgrown child and a total buffoon.
It could get worse and will I am afraid it will because if Biggar or Webb get hurt its useless, ill disciplined, ‘mine’s a fight outside a burger shop’ Mr Over-the-Hill Phillips at No9 and Wales’ worst No10 since Colin Stephens Mr P++shand at outside 1/2.
Scrape……bottom…….barrel.
The normal routine service of losing to the SH to continue for the 300th consecutive game.
Gutless left Hook on the bench all game against Fiji despite P++shand’s awful performance.
What odds Gutless subs Biggar if Wales are in a winning position and P++shand throws it all away AGAIN in the last few minutes????
This does not look good at all.
Roger the Dodger’s 4th AI outside the IRB window of course so its a 2nd choice front row as Hibbard and James are at their English clubs whereas England’s internationals are all available to them.
Nice on Roger!!!
With North out we have that idiot Liam Williams in the team-……the guy who cost Wales the 2nd test against Saturday’s opponents last summer.
What odds this buffoon Williams gets yellow carded or even sent off for two yellows in 80mins on Saturday?
He’s done it already at club level this seasosn so look out Wales.
‘He’s so competitive’ say the Scrum V pundits.
All well and good but he’s a total liability and the Welsh public must realise by now. A good game v Fiji is nothing to write home about.
Not content with an injured Gethin Jenkins at loosehead, we have 2 half backs on the bench that cause dread every time they get on the field.
Mr Over-the-Hill and ‘mine’s a Whopper – Whopper fight that is..not the burger’ at No9.
Thanks for losing us the game by NZ Phillips with one of your uselfess boxkicks..now clear off back to Paris pronto.
But the crowning turd in the waterpipe is the recall of Rhys P++Sland.
All that King Midas touched turned to gold as at least that is what the legend says.
Everything P++shand touches turns to sh+t- his last game for Wales (v Fiji where he made at least 8 mistakes but stayed on the field for the whole 80 mins)
My granny could do a better job that this plonker and she’s been dead for over 40 years.
300th consecutive loss v SH top 3 under Worse than Gutless.
Its enough to turn a man to drink..now then….
Prophet Enoch if it makes you this miserable maybe you need a new hobby. It’s just a game!
Lukov,
Some people take the things I write far far too seriously. But to paraphrase a former Liverpool manager….
‘Some think rugby is a matter of life and death. I assure it is much more important than that.’
The real issue here is Roger the Dodger’s 4th AI outside the IRB window and then Wales Management face putting out a side without the players from non-Welsh clubs.
That’s why there is an AI IRB window and that’s what the WRU should stick to.
Simple answer is don’t play the 4th AI. outside the IRB schedule.
Afterall it is why we are in the Pool of Death at RWC 2015 because possibly Roger wants a bonus for paying down the stadium debt early?(or at least that how it appears to me/the guys who watch games together)
Agree about Phillips and P++sland. Especially as there are options available.
But who would you have instead of Williams. If he was fit Walker seems an obvious choice, but…
Mike,
Yes you’ve hit the nail on the head with North and Walker injured.
The well is rather dry at the moment but I still don’t trust Williams. I really don’t not against a top SH side.
Imagine Williams and P++shand in the same backline at the same time against the Boks and Wales leading by less 8 points with 4 mins to go.
We all know what will happen again don’t we!
Just to complete that picture can you imagine Care in that side… Oh no, you don’t have to. You have Phillips.