Lee Byrne and Ryan Jones confirmed for South Africa Test
Welsh coach Warren Gatland should have captain Ryan Jones and full back Lee Byrne at his disposal for the match against South Africa on Saturday 13 November.
The influential players will be a huge boost for Wales ahead of the remaining Autumn Internationals.
Byrne was expected to miss all of the November Tests, but he has recovered from a broken bone in his hand quicker than anticipated.
Versatile player James Hook had filled in for Byrne at full back, but the British and Irish Lion is now expected to return to the centre with Byrne reclaiming his position.
Jones has recovered from his calf injury and has taken part in training this week. Jones will regain the captaincy from Matthew Rees if selected.
Gatland has received some bad news regarding Sam Warburton who was picked ahead of Martyn Williams for the 16-25 defeat to Australia.
"Sam has a grade two tear to his calf and will now be two to three weeks in recovery," said the Wales team physiotherapist Mark Davies.
Martyn Williams is expected to take Warburton’s place and he may have replaced the flanker regardless of the injury.
The physiotherapist had better news about Jones and Byrne and said, "Lee and Ryan both took an active part in training this morning and will be monitored throughout the week, but both should be available
to the coaches for selection before the weekend."
Gatland will not name his team for the Test against South Africa until Thursday 11 November. The Welsh team has not managed to beat the World Champions since 1999 and have lost their last 11 Test matches
against the Springboks.
Gatland will hope that with Byrne and Jones they will have the leadership and attacking flair to overcome a South African team that is missing 13 players through injury including their captain John Smit.
South Africa will be wary of Byrne in particular, who is regarded as the world’s best full-back.
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