WALES need other ball carriers to step up in the second Test against Australia after the hammer blow of losing talisman Aaron Wainwright.

The Dragons back rower limped off in the final minute of the 25-16 first Test defeat to the Wallabies in Sydney.

Wainwright will miss the shot at revenge in Melbourne plus the friendly at Queensland Reds, with the Rodney Parade club left to pick up the pieces.

The 26-year-old from Bassaleg is likely to be out for several months, with the United Rugby Championship getting under way on September 21.

Wales were already lacking ball carriers and now need others to offer themselves if they are to end their eight-game losing streak.

The Dragons man, arguably player of the season for Warren Gatland's side, was typically influential in Sydney when making 17 carries for 144 metres and beating five defenders while he made 16 tackles with no misses.

Taine Plumtree shifts across to number eight and Cardiff’s James Botham comes in at blindside, with Mackenzie Martin called up to the bench.

"It is disappointing for him and us, he was outstanding last week," said Gatland about Wainwright.

"One of the things I've been challenging on over recent months is I felt there's another level in him.

"As a player, you'd see really good touches from him, but he might drift in and out of games.

"You've seen in the last couple of games that there's been a real step up in terms of his performances."

RECALL: Full-back Cameron Winnett starts for Wales against AustraliaRECALL: Full-back Cameron Winnett starts for Wales against Australia (Image: PA)

Cameron Winnett also comes into the side at full-back with Liam Williams moving to the wing to replace Josh Hathaway, who suffered an elbow injury on Test debut.

Wing Rio Dyer is the only Dragons player to feature with locks Ben Carter and Matthew Screech missing out and having to settle for facing the Reds in Brisbane next Friday.

Head coach Gatland said he expects an even tougher examination from the Wallabies, who started life under new boss Joe Schmidt with a deserved win.

“We’ve been going through our processes, building on what worked well and sharpening the areas that need improvement,” said Gatland.

“We expect Australia to go up another level this weekend and we know we need to as well.

“We want to start well and make sure we are disciplined and accurate from the off. Then it’s about keeping in the arm-wrestle for the duration.”

Wales: Cameron Winnett (Cardiff); Liam Williams (Kubota Spears), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Mason Grady (Cardiff), Rio Dyer (Dragons); Ben Thomas (Cardiff), Ellis Bevan (Cardiff); Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Dewi Lake (Ospreys, captain), Archie Griffin (Bath), Christ Tshiunza (Exeter), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter), James Botham (Cardiff), Tommy Reffell (Leicester), Taine Plumtree (Scarlets).

Replacements: Evan Lloyd (Cardiff), Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets), Harri O’Connor (Scarlets), Cory Hill (Secom Rugguts), Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff), Kieran Hardy (Ospreys), Sam Costelow (Scarlets), Nick Tompkins (Saracens).