Wales will not have to tame The Beast this autumn when South Africa visit the Principality Stadium.
Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira will miss the Springboks’ November tour due to a neck injury the prop sustained playing against New Zealand earlier this month.
It means Wales will not have to deal with South Africa’s most experienced player when they play the Boks on November 24, the final match of the four-game Under Armour series.
Mtawarira has played 10 times against Wales, with just two defeats – the last being the 27-13 loss in Cardiff two years ago.
But he has been left out of the South Africa training squad announced on Tuesday and coach Rassie Erasmus has confirmed the prop will not add to his 107 caps.
There was a recall for No 8 Duane Vermeulen‚ who missed the Rugby Championship due to Japanese club commitments.
Erasmus has named a preliminary 20-man squad‚ which will be increased to 34 players after next weekend’s Currie Cup final. A number of European-based players are also set to be added.
South Africa – who beat the All Blacks in Wellington last month – will play England, France, Scotland and then Wales in November.
