A third Wales player ruled out World Cup warm-up against Springboks
Wales' Alex Cuthbert shows his dejection.
Wales have lost a third player ahead of the Rugby World Cup warm-up match against South Africa due to injury, with Alex Cuthbert ruled out.
Cuthbert was set to feature in his first game for Wales since the Six Nations clash against Scotland in early February.
Tom Rogers replaces Alex Cuthbert
Cuthbert’s injury means that Scarlets’ back Tom Rogers will earn his fourth cap for Wales and his second successive start after featuring against England last week.
Wales confirmed that Cuthbert has withdrawn from the fixture as a precaution, with the veteran winger struggling with calf tightness.
Rogers is promoted from the bench to start, with Gloucester flyer Louis Rees-Zammit joining the replacements.
The news comes off the back of British and Irish Lions backs Liam Williams and Dan Biggar withdrawing from the side as a precautionary measures on Thursday.
Fullback Williams had a tight hamstring, with fly-half Biggar suffering from back irritation, which meant Test debutant Cai Evans replacing Williams and Sam Costelow taking over from Biggar.
“Dan has had an irritation in his back and Liam has a tight hamstring. So, we’ve decided to give Sam Costelow another chance at outside half and brought in Cai Evans at full back,” head coach Warren Gatland said of the injuries on Thursday.
“Both Dan and Liam could have played if we pushed them. If it had been a World Cup semi-final, then they would have started. It’s using a bit of adversity as a positive. I’m excited for Sam, and we are dealing with something that could be thrown at us at the World Cup.
“We are confident that all the players carrying injuries will be fit and available in time for the first game at the World Cup against Fiji.”
The changes mean that Gatland is fielding a back line that comprises a total of just 39 Test caps, 17 of which come from starting scrum-half Kieran Hardy.
They face a Springboks’ backline that contains 269 Test caps, with the least experienced of the starting seven being winger Canan Moodie who earns his seventh cap on Saturday.
Alex Cuthbert’s World Cup chances
Gatland is set to name his final 33-man squad on Monday next week, with Cuthbert now in danger of missing the cut.
Williams, Rees-Zammit and Josh Adams look nailed-on selections for the squad.
While Cuthbert, Rio Dyer and Cai Evans looked set to stake late claims for a spot against South Africa.
What does play in the veteran’s favour is that he does have 57th Test caps worth of experience.
Updated Wales team v South Africa
Wales: 15 Cai Evans, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Mason Grady, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Jac Morgan (c), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Will Rowlands, 4 Ben Carter, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Corey Domachowski
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Teddy Williams, 20 Taine Basham, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Max Llewellyn, 23 Louis Rees-Zammit
Date: Saturday, August 19
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 15:15 BST (14:15 GMT)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Chris Busby (Ireland), Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ireland)
READ MORE: Wales v South Africa preview: Springboks to continue Cardiff winning streak
