Wales Dan Lydiate is tackled by Japan’s Timothy Lafaele during the Autumn International rugby match at the Principality Stadium
Captain Sam Warburton has been ruled out of Wales’ rugby test against South Africa by a training injury and replaced by Dan Lydiate at blindside flanker.
Warburton suffered a pinched nerve in training on Tuesday, interim coach Rob Howley said at the team announcement yesterday.
He was the only change to the side which edged Argentina 24-20 two weeks ago. Lydiate, the British Lion, will form a loose forward trio with Justin Tipuric and Ross Moriarty.
Prop Gethin Jenkins has the captain’s armband again.
In the reserves, No. 8 Taulupe Faletau was back after less than an hour of competitive rugby in 12 weeks, as was flyhalf Sam Davies, who kicked the winning dropped goal against Japan last weekend.
Faletau played his first match last Friday since a knee ligaments injury in early September, and gave a 55-minute shift for his Bath club.
“It’s good to have Taulupe back in the squad, he will add a good impact from the bench,” Howley said.
“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 [when he made his debut].
“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.”
Wales has beaten South Africa only twice in 110 years.
Meanwhile, Lock George Kruis was back in England’s lineup against Argentina tomorrow after recovering from ankle surgery which forced him to miss the wins over South Africa and Fiji this month.
Also recalled were flanker Tom Wood, winger Jonny May, and fullback Mike Brown after Fiji was beaten 58-15 last weekend.
Kruis was an integral part of England’s Six Nations Grand Slam and series sweep in Australia, and his return to fitness was timely after lock Joe Launchbury was suspended on Monday for two weeks for kicking a Fijian.
Wood replaced Northampton teammate Teimana Harrison at openside flanker, where he played against the Springboks.
May, on the left wing in the South Africa match, displaced Semesa Rokoduguni on the right wing.
Brown was in for Alex Goode.
“Selection was interesting this week but it shows how competitive and how much depth we are developing,” coach Eddie Jones said. AP
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