AARON Wainwright has been dropped from the Wales squad for the autumn finale against world champions South Africa.

The number eight started in the defeats to Fiji and Australia after making a rapid recovery from a summer hamstring injury.

Wainwright, who had only made a 48-minute Dragons appearance at Connacht before international duty, has understandably not hit the heights of last season for a struggling Wales side.

The dynamic back rower scored against the Wallabies but has lacked sharpness and was replaced in both games.

The Dragons will hope to profit from him having a weekend off when they return to action in the United Rugby Championship at Cardiff a week on Saturday.

Taine Plumtree starts at number eight against the Springboks (kick-off 5.40pm) to join James Botham and Jac Morgan in the back row with Tommy Reffell the cover.

BACK: Rio Dyer starts for Wales on the wingBACK: Rio Dyer starts for Wales on the wing (Image: Press Association)

Wainwright sits out the daunting clash but Rodney Parade teammate Rio Dyer does make a return on the wing with Blair Murray shifting to full-back.

Dragons scrum-half Rhodri Williams is set to win his fifth cap as a replacement after coming on against the Wallabies last week while he is joined on the bench by potential debutant Freddie Thomas, with the Gloucester prospect providing second-row cover.

“We know what a quality side South Africa are and the physicality they bring. This week we need to show real courage and front up against the World Champions,” said Warren Gatland.

Gatland has overseen a record 11 successive Test match defeats, and another loss would mean Wales going an entire calendar year without winning a Test for the first time since 1937.

World champions South Africa, fresh from beating England, are overwhelming favourites to make it seven victories in the last eight games against Wales.

Wales team

15. Blair Murray (Scarlets – 2 caps)

14. Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 5 caps)

13. Max Llewellyn (Gloucester– 4 caps)

12. Ben Thomas (Cardiff – 6 caps)

11. Rio Dyer (Dragons – 22 caps)

10. Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 17 caps)

9.  Ellis Bevan (Cardiff– 5 caps)

1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 35 caps)

2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 17 caps) captain

3. Archie Griffin (Bath– 5 caps)

4. Will Rowlands (Racing 92 – 35 caps)

5. Christ Tshiunza (Exeter– 14 caps)

6. James Botham (Cardiff– 15 caps)

7. Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 17 caps)

8. Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 6 caps)

Replacements

16. Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 43 caps)

17. Nicky Smith (Leicester– 48 caps)

18. Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff– 9 caps)

19. Freddie Thomas (Gloucester– uncapped)

20. Tommy Reffell (Leicester– 22 caps)

21. Rhodri Williams (Dragons – 4 caps)

22. Eddie James (Scarlets – 2 caps)

23. Josh Hathaway (Gloucester– 1 cap)