Wales team in full amid Jac Morgan shock and more debuts against South Africa

Jac Morgan has been ruled out of Wales’ entire summer Test series, with Dewi Lake captaining the side against South Africa on Saturday.

Morgan missed the Six Nations due to a knee injury but returned to fitness for the Ospreys‘ end of season run-in. However, the 24-year-old picked up a hamstring injury in the United Rugby Championship quarter-final defeat to Munster and as a result has been replaced by Cardiff backrower James Botham for this Saturday’s clash with the world champions and the tour of Australia.

Morgan’s Ospreys colleague Lake has been named as captain having also missed the Six Nations with a hamstring injury. Warren Gatland has also handed a Test debut to uncapped Cardiff scrum-half Ellis Bevan who will go head-to-head with South African World Cup winner Faf de Klerk at Twickenham on Saturday.

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There is also a recall for Liam Williams, who missed the Six Nations due to club commitments in Japan, with the 33-year-old set to win his 90th cap on the wing. Gatland has also decided to start Dragons lock Matthew Screech who wins only his second cap, the first coming against Argentina in 2021, with Ben Carter starting his first Test match since last summer.

Taine Plumtree is named at blindside flanker and will win his third cap having last featured for Wales against England at Twickenham Stadium in August 2023. Mason Grady and Owen Watkin pair up in the midfield.

There is also a squad call-up for uncapped Ospreys back-five forward James Ratti who will win his first cap from the bench. Scarlets centre Eddie James and utility back Jacob Beetham are also in line to make their debuts having also been named on the bench.

“We have our backs to the wall a little bit this week, but we’re really excited about the challenge on Saturday,” said Gatland. “Facing the world champions at Twickenham Stadium will be a great occasion and we’re 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’s 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 are in the midst of a second-row crisis with Dafydd Jenkins, Cory Hill, Christ Tshiunza, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Teddy Williams and Seb Davies unavailable. Gatland is without seven players due to the game being staged outside of World Rugby’s designated window, while Beard and Hill are injured.

The New Zealander has also opted to give Rowlands, Ryan Elias and Josh Adams the summer off to recover. Wales have lost their previous six Test matches, which includes a Six Nations Wooden Spoon, and will be hard pressed to beat a very strong Springboks side.

Wales: C Winnett (Cardiff); L Williams (Kubota Spears), O Watkin (Ospreys), M Grady (Cardiff), R Dyer (Dragons); S Costelow (Scarlets), E Bevan (Cardiff); G Thomas (Ospreys), D Lake (Ospreys, capt), H Thomas (Scarlets), M Screech (Dragons), M Screech (Dragons), T Plumtree (Scarlets), J Botham (Cardiff), A Wainwright (Dragons).

Replacements: E Lloyd (Cardiff), K Mathias (Scarlets), K Assiratti (Cardiff), J Ratti (Ospreys), M Martin (Cardiff), G Davies (Scarlets), E James (Scarlets), J Beetham (Cardiff).