Warburton out injured for Wales, Lydiate in, Faletau back

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 8:29 p.m. ET

foxsports

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) Captain Sam Warburton has been ruled out of Wales' rugby test against South Africa by a training injury and replaced by Dan Lydiate at blindside flanker.

Warburton suffered a pinched nerve in training on Tuesday, interim coach Rob Howley said at the team announcement on Thursday.

He was the only change to the side which edged Argentina 24-20 two weeks ago. Lydiate, the British Lion, will form a loose forward trio with Justin Tipuric and Ross Moriarty.

Prop Gethin Jenkins has the captain's armband again.

In the reserves, No. 8 Taulupe Faletau was back after less than an hour of competitive rugby in 12 weeks, as was flyhalf Sam Davies, who kicked the winning dropped goal against Japan last weekend.

Faletau played his first match last Friday since a knee ligaments injury in early September, and gave a 55-minute shift for his Bath club.

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

''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 (when he made his debut).

''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.''

Wales has beaten South Africa only twice in 110 years.

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Wales: Leigh Halfpenny, George North, Jonathan Davies, Scott Williams, Liam Williams, Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Ross Moriarty, Justin Tipuric, Dan Lydiate, Alun-Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris, Tomas Francis, Ken Owens, Gethin Jenkins (captain). Reserves: Scott Baldwin, Nicky Smith, Samson Lee, Cory Hill, Taulupe Faletau, Lloyd Williams, Sam Davies, Jamie Roberts.