Wales reveals Jac Morgan injury blow as Gatland names side to face Boks

By SABC Sport
18th June 2024

Wales have been dealt a major injury blow with flanker Jac Morgan ruled out of Saturday's Test match against the Springboks.

Morgan, who was Wales' World Cup co-captain with Dewi Lake last year, also missed this season's Six Nations because of a knee injury but now has a new hamstring problem that he picked up in the URC.

Hooker Lake will be captain against South Africa at Twickenham, with James Botham - son of famous English cricketer Ian - wearing the number seven shirt and lining up in a back-row that also includes Taine Plumtree and Aaron Wainwright.

Cardiff scrumhalf Ellis Bevan is handed a Test debut, while Liam Williams makes a first Wales appearance since the 2023 World Cup.

Williams, who missed this season's Six Nations due to club commitments in Japan, returns alongside back-three colleagues Cameron Winnett and Rio Dyer.

Wales are without their England-based players - the likes of Nick Tompkins, Dafydd Jenkins and Tommy Reffell - because the game falls outside World Rugby's summer Test window and means they cannot be considered for selection.

Wales have been badly hit in the second-row department, with Six Nations skipper Jenkins and his Exeter colleague Christ Tshiunza both unavailable, Will Rowlands being rested and Adam Beard injured.

Matthew Screech and Ben Carter are the locks selected to start against the world champions. Screech, 31, made his only previous Wales appearance as a replacement against Argentina in 2021, while Carter was last involved during the World Cup warm-up Tests almost a year ago.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland said: "We have our backs to the wall a little bit this week, but we are really excited about the challenge on Saturday.

"Facing the world champions at Twickenham Stadium will be a great occasion, and we are relishing the opportunity to get out there and put in a performance.

"We have a big week ahead of us with this young squad, but the coaches and I have been very happy with the effort that is going in.

"There's a huge amount of potential in this group, and the next five weeks will be extremely important for us in terms of wanting to develop this team."

Wales team to face Springboks: 15 Cameron Winnett, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Mason Grady, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Ellis Bevan, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 James Botham, 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Ben Carter, 4 Matthew Screech, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Dewi Lake (captain), 1 Gareth Thomas.

Replacements: 16 Evan Lloyd, 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Kieron Assiratti, 19 James Ratti, 20 Mackenzie Martin, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Eddie James, 23 Jacob Beetham.