Wales v South Africa at HQ
Yep…it’s at Twickers.
Why it isn’t in South Africa I have no idea.
Millennium Stadium in concert mode at this time of year.
Someone called Taylor Swift there tonight.
Warren Gatland has named his Wales side to face South Africa this weekend after being hit by a huge hammer blow.
Jac Morgan was expected to return to lead the side at Twickenham after missing the Six Nations while recovering from knee surgery - but has left the squad and is set for another spell on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury. In his absence, Dewi Lake will captain the side with Ellis Bevan making his international debut at scrum-half.
"He’s pretty gutted," said Gatland when asked about Morgan's absence. "He had a tight hamstring when he played against Munster so we’ve been looking after him but unfortunately he’s been ruled out. It gives him an opportunity to have a full pre-season.”
The Wales boss has also made a last-minute call-up, with Ospreys star James Ratti brought in to cover second row and across the back row. He is in line to make his Wales debut from the bench, as are the uncapped Eddie James and Jacob Beetham.
Lake will be joined in the front row by Gareth Thomas and Henry Thomas, with Dragons duo Matthew Screech and Ben Carter selected in the second row. Taine Plumtree starts at blindside flanker with James Botham - who was called into the squad yesterday - named at openside and Aaron Wainwright at No.8.
Liam Williams starts on the wing to make his first appearance since the World Cup, with Rio Dyer on the opposite flank and Cam Winnett at full-back. Sam Costelow is at fly-half with Mason Grady starting at 12 alongside Owen Watkin.
Gatland will be cutting down his 38-man roster to 34 after the game on Saturday, which is a double-header alongside the Barbarians' clash with Fiji. Rassie Erasmus has also named his squad for the weekend, with four players in line to make their debuts and Pieter-Steph du Toit leading the side.
Wales XV: 15. Cameron Winnett, 14. Liam Williams, 13. Owen Watkin, 12. Mason Grady, 11. Rio Dyer; 10. Sam Costelow, 9. Ellis Bevan; 1. Gareth Thomas, 2. Dewi Lake (captain), 3. Henry Thomas, 4. Matthew Screech, 5. Ben Carter, 6. Taine Plumtree, 7. James Botham, 8. Aaron Wainwright.
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
South Africa XV: Aphelele Fassi; Edwill van der Merwe, Jesse Kriel, Andre Estherhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi; Jordan Hendrikse, Faf de Klerk; Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Pieter-Steph du Toit (C), Evan Roos.
Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Frans Malherbe, Salmaan Moerat, Ben-Jason Dixon, Grant Williams, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian de Allende.
Why it isn’t in South Africa I have no idea.
Millennium Stadium in concert mode at this time of year.
Someone called Taylor Swift there tonight.
Warren Gatland has named his Wales side to face South Africa this weekend after being hit by a huge hammer blow.
Jac Morgan was expected to return to lead the side at Twickenham after missing the Six Nations while recovering from knee surgery - but has left the squad and is set for another spell on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury. In his absence, Dewi Lake will captain the side with Ellis Bevan making his international debut at scrum-half.
"He’s pretty gutted," said Gatland when asked about Morgan's absence. "He had a tight hamstring when he played against Munster so we’ve been looking after him but unfortunately he’s been ruled out. It gives him an opportunity to have a full pre-season.”
The Wales boss has also made a last-minute call-up, with Ospreys star James Ratti brought in to cover second row and across the back row. He is in line to make his Wales debut from the bench, as are the uncapped Eddie James and Jacob Beetham.
Lake will be joined in the front row by Gareth Thomas and Henry Thomas, with Dragons duo Matthew Screech and Ben Carter selected in the second row. Taine Plumtree starts at blindside flanker with James Botham - who was called into the squad yesterday - named at openside and Aaron Wainwright at No.8.
Liam Williams starts on the wing to make his first appearance since the World Cup, with Rio Dyer on the opposite flank and Cam Winnett at full-back. Sam Costelow is at fly-half with Mason Grady starting at 12 alongside Owen Watkin.
Gatland will be cutting down his 38-man roster to 34 after the game on Saturday, which is a double-header alongside the Barbarians' clash with Fiji. Rassie Erasmus has also named his squad for the weekend, with four players in line to make their debuts and Pieter-Steph du Toit leading the side.
Wales XV: 15. Cameron Winnett, 14. Liam Williams, 13. Owen Watkin, 12. Mason Grady, 11. Rio Dyer; 10. Sam Costelow, 9. Ellis Bevan; 1. Gareth Thomas, 2. Dewi Lake (captain), 3. Henry Thomas, 4. Matthew Screech, 5. Ben Carter, 6. Taine Plumtree, 7. James Botham, 8. Aaron Wainwright.
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
South Africa XV: Aphelele Fassi; Edwill van der Merwe, Jesse Kriel, Andre Estherhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi; Jordan Hendrikse, Faf de Klerk; Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Pieter-Steph du Toit (C), Evan Roos.
Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Frans Malherbe, Salmaan Moerat, Ben-Jason Dixon, Grant Williams, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian de Allende.
61-69, M