Wales will welcome back fit-again forward Aaron Wainwright for Saturday’s autumn finale against world champions South Africa.
The Dragons number eight returns to the starting XV after missing the New Zealand match through a hip injury.
Wainwright’s availability provides a significant boost for head coach Steve Tandy, who has been forced into wholesale changes as the fixture falls outside World Rugby’s official window.
With English- and French-based players unavailable, and a series of fresh injuries hitting the squad, Wales will field a reshaped side featuring 10 players making their first appearances of the month.
The team has a distinctly regional look without so many top-ranked selections, but Tandy’s bosses arranged this extra match - to bring in extra cash - long before his appointment.
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One of the biggest absences is hat-trick hero Tom Rogers, who became the first Welshman to score three tries against New Zealand but has now been sidelined by a hamstring injury picked up during the 52–26 defeat.
Rogers’ setback removes one of Wales’ brightest attacking sparks and adds to the disruption in the back three, where Louis Rees-Zammit is also unavailable.
His injury opens the door for Ellis Mee to make his first start of the autumn on the wing, with Rio Dyer deployed on the opposite flank and Blair Murray once again lining up at full-back.
The return of Wainwright reshapes the back row:
Taine Plumtree moves to blindside flanker and Alex Mann switches to openside, with Harri Deaves dropping out of the XV. Wainwright had been named to face the All Blacks but withdrew shortly before kick-off, making his comeback timely as Wales attempt to end their campaign on a high.
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There is another new pairing in the second row, where Ben Carter and Rhys Davies come together, while Gareth Thomas earns his first autumn start at loosehead prop.
The front row is completed by captain Dewi Lake and tight-head Keiron Assiratti.
Behind them, the midfield features Joe Hawkins partnering Joe Roberts, while Dan Edwards teams up with Kieran Hardy at half-back after Gloucester duo Max Llewellyn and Tomos Williams were released.
Given the window restrictions, the bench includes several players set for their first action of the month: Danny Southworth, Chris Coleman, James Ratti, Reuben Morgan-Williams and Callum Sheedy. Southworth, the Cardiff loosehead, could win his first cap.
Tandy, despite the upheaval, believes Wales can build on the intensity and ambition shown against the All Blacks.
“What we want to see from the boys is the same type of effort and performance as we did last weekend,” he said.
“I think we showed a lot of attacking intent, a lot of toughness in the way we went about lots of the defensive effort as well, to give the supporters something to shout about.”
With another huge test awaiting at Principality Stadium, Tandy said Wales will again rely on the atmosphere that pushed the team through long spells against New Zealand.
“The fans on the weekend were electric. I think the boys really responded to how good the support was,” he said. “When you see the charge, in and around when we score, but also when we're going deep into the defensive set, when they're chanting ‘Wales’,
“it's just something that's unbelievable and I'd like to thank them for all the support they've given the boys. We’re going into the last game, which we're all excited about. The players love the fact of playing at Principality Stadium in front of the best support in the world.”
Wales’ task will be steep against a South Africa side missing several stars of their own, but the return of Wainwright provides much-needed balance to a back row that will have to match the Springboks physically.
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Wales team to face South Africa:
Blair Murray; Ellis Mee, Joe Roberts, Joe Hawkins, Rio Dyer; Dan Edwards, Kieran Hardy; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Keiron Assiratti, Ben Carter, Rhys Davies, Taine Plumtree, Alex Mann, Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: Brodie Coghlan, Danny Southworth, Chris Coleman, James Ratti, Morgan Morse, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Callum Sheedy, Ben Thomas.
