Gatland faces challenge as Wales go out the window

Wales head coach Warren Gatland accepts the injuryhit autumn campaign has been “a bit of a challenge” that has tested resources.

His team go into tomorrow’s autumn Test finale against South Africa with just eight survivors from the starting line-up which was beaten by Australia on 11 November.

Wales entered the international period minus star names such as Sam Warburton and George North. Injuries suffered during November have seen their fellow British and Irish Lions Jonathan Davies, Liam Williams, Ken Owens and Justin Tipuric also ruled out at various points, in addition to players such as Jake Ball and Samson Lee.

And the Aviva Premiership-based quartet of Owen Williams, Jamie Roberts, Rhys Priestland and Tomas Francis are unavailable this weekend as the game falls outside World Rugby’s autumn Test window. English clubs have a blanket policy of not releasing players for those games.

Gatland’s team to tackle the Springboks includes a Wales debut for New Zealand-born centre Hadleigh Parkes, only a second Test start for Scarlets scrumhalf Aled Davies and prop Scott Andrews making his first Wales start since 2013.

“It has been hard,” Gatland said.

“I think we’ve had 11 injuries, or something like that, in this campaign. It has been tough from a playing perspective.”

Gatland, though, has been able to blood a number of promising prospects at the sport’s elite level, including the likes of Scarlets wing Steff Evans, Ospreys centre Owen Watkin and Dragons hooker Elliot Dee.

South Africa have also been hit by injury, with powerful prop Tendai Mtawarira ruled out of the Cardiff clash.

Mtawarira – nicknamed “The Beast” – is sidelined due to a groin injury and willbereplacedinthefront row by Steven Kitshoff.

The Springboks are striving to avoid a third successive defeat against their opponents on Welsh soil.