Experienced Wales prop Wyn Jones is not being considered as tight-head cover ahead of the second Test against the Springboks on Saturday.
It means one of two vastly-inexperienced youngsters – Sam Wainwright or Harri O’Connor – will be in line for their debut against the world champions this weekend.
After suffering a serious concussion in the 32-29 defeat at Lofus Versfeld, Wales’ first choice tight-head Tomas Francis has been stood down from the second and third Tests. He would have faced a mandatory stand-down period of 12 days so was automatically ruled out of the potential series equaliser, but medics have opted to send Francis home.
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Normally a loose-head, 43-cap Jones went to the 2019 Rugby World Cup as cover in the No. 3 position and filled the role off the bench against Uruguay and New Zealand. But Wales forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys insists one of Wainwright, the 24-year-old who has never started a game of professional rugby, or O'Connor, a 21-year-old who has started just one game for the Scarlets, will be involved in Bloemfontein.
Asked directly if Jones was covering the tight-head, Humphreys said: “No. We’ve got two other tight-heads that we’ve brought out with us in Sam and Harri so it’s a massive opportunity for either one of those. It’s a hell of an opportunity for anybody, especially two very committed young professionals like those two. It’s a massive positive for them and for us because it increases our depth in that area and that’s what we’re after.
“I’m confident that they’re ready to take on the occasion. They’re extremely impressive young people and they’ve worked their socks off since they’ve been over here. They’ve fitted right in. I’m confident that the occasion won’t be too much for them and that they’ll go out there and give everything they’ve got.”
Francis, who suffered another heavy head knock earlier this year against England, had been recovering well but Humphreys insisted his health would be the priority.
When asked if the 30-year-old could feature in the third Test on July 16, Humphreys said: “Hopefully but the priority is his health. We’ve got an unbelievable medical department making sure that he comes first. He’s good. It was tough at the time. It’s tough to see anybody be knocked out like that. He recovered well afterwards and he seems pretty good in himself. It’s over to the medics to take it from now.”
A Welsh Rugby Union statement was later issued confirming the medical decision to send the prop home to optimise his recovery.
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