Wales v South Africa: Wainwright boost for hosts against Springboks

Wales have brought forward their team announcement to Wednesday and Wainwright will be available along with fellow back-row forward Alex Mann, who went off in the closing stages last weekend and then passed a head injury assessment.

The fixture will stretch Wales’ depth, but attack coach Matt Sherratt is relishing the chance to go up against the Springboks.

“It’s an opportunity to play against the world champions in our home stadium,” said Sherratt.

“It’s an opportunity for a group of players to show themselves against the best. Only good can come of that and we don’t want to go into it with a victim mindset because you can come unstuck.

“We’ve got to focus on ourselves as a new group, look at the areas we need to improve in and if we see some signs of that then it will be a worthwhile game.

“We are desperate to put a good performance on the field and back the players we have available to us.”

Wales will be forced into change, but Sherratt insists giving opportunities to all members of their squad is not part of the selection process.

“We’ve got to pick the best team available for us to put a performance in for the nation,” he said.

“If a player is in the camp they are not guaranteed a cap – I don’t think that is healthy.

“A cap should be something that you work hard for, strive for and is the pinnacle of your career, it’s not something that should be handed out just because you are in camp. Players deserve to be in camp, but then have to earn it.”