Wales lose injured Sam Warburton for Saturday's clash with South Africa

Image: Sam Warburton will miss Saturday's game against South Africa

Wales will be without captain Sam Warburton for Saturday's autumn international against South Africa at Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

Warburton sustained an injury in training on Tuesday so Dan Lydiate comes into the side at blindside flanker in the only change to the team that started in the victory over Argentina earlier this month.

"We were pleased with the win against Argentina so have gone with virtually the same team for South Africa," said head coach Rob Howley, whose side also edged out Japan last weekend.

"We've made just one change in the back row. Sam picked up a bit of a stinger injury on Tuesday and isn't quite ready so Dan comes in.  Dan played particularly well against Japan so we are pleased he gets the opportunity again."

Prop Gethin Jenkins will lead the side and lines up in a front row alongside Ken Owens and Tomas Francis.

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Liam Williams started in the No 15 shirt against Japan, with Leigh Halfpenny on the wing, but those roles have been
reversed this weekend.

There are two further changes among the replacements with No 8 Taulupe Faleatu returning from injury to take his place on the bench alongside Ospreys fly-half Sam Davies.

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Howley added: "It's good to have Taulupe back in the squad, he will add a good impact from the bench. 

"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.

Image: Taulupe Faletau is back in the fold with Wales

"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.

"We feel we have X-factor players who can get in behind shoulders and offload, but it is a decision-making process. We have talked about the ability not to hurt ourselves [with poor decision making] and I think against Japan we hurt ourselves.

"But I'm not going to stop the players playing, we have to play, express ourselves, it is the modern game."

Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Liam Williams,10 Dan Biggar, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Gethin Jenkins (c), 2 Ken Owens, 3 Tomas Francis, 4 Luke Charteris, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 6 Dan Lydiate, 7 Justin Tipuric, 8 Ross Moriarty.

Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Nicky Smith, 18. Samson Lee, 19. Cory Hill, 20 Taulupe Faletau, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Jamie Roberts.

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