Danny Wilson provides Wales squad update ahead of South Africa meeting

If that is the case, Ryan Elias will likely start at hooker for Wales’ final summer Test against the back-to-back world champions in Durban on Saturday.

The 27-year-old has not travelled home, despite experienced Dragons hooker Elliot Dee joining Wales’ squad this week.

Assistant coach Danny Wilson admitted that, despite leaving the pitch in discomfort against Argentina, Wales have not yet ruled out the Gloucester-bound player for the contest against the Springboks.

“That’s a real positive,” added Wilson. “That’s ruled him more in than out at the moment.

With Lake potentially sidelined for the encounter at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, then Jac Morgan will likely lead Wales into the daunting challenge at the weekend, having already done so through the summer campaign when Lake was replaced.

It’s a like-for-like replacement, as both players have been top performers this summer. This will also mean that Elias, who made his 50th appearance last weekend, will start for Wales for the first time in over two years.

Wales come into the contest against the Springboks off the back of wins against the Barbarians and Fiji, but last weekend they were hit with a reality check in their 35-21 defeat against Los Pumas in San Juan.

“Getting off to two wins off the back of the last Six Nations win was important for us. Getting that winning feeling is important,” continued Wilson. "We took some steps forward with that.

"That Fiji performance we were pleased with. Showing further steps forward. Dominating in certain areas that you need to against Fiji if you are going to be able to pull off a win.

"The weekend, collectively, we were a bit disappointed with the performance, particularly that middle section of the game where we dropped off.

Those standards will have to be at their highest levels come Saturday against the Springboks, who have started their inaugural Nations Championship campaign with back-to-back wins against England (45-21) and Scotland (42-28).

Wales dropped to 12th in the world rankings after their loss to Argentina and suffered a record-breaking 73-0 defeat to the Springboks in their last meeting in November.

That contest, however, comes with an asterisk next to it, as that pointless Test took place outside of the designated international Test window. Wilson noted this in his press conference, calling the loss horrible and saying Wales needs to show improvement from that sobering day.

A slimmer scoreline than the one they ended 2025 with will show a great deal of progress has been made.

“Generally, they are the world champions. Getting an opportunity for this squad to test itself- what an opportunity- to play the world champions in their own backyard,” added Wilson, who’s responsible for Wales’ line-outs, an area of great strength this summer, as well as contact areas.

“It is one you want to be pitching yourself against. Obviously, it is a huge challenge. Physically, right across the park in every area, you have to be able to go against that. That’s where South Africa gets its dominance.

On whether Wales will have to start fast in Durban to avoid yet another brutal loss, Wilson said: “I think every game (it’s important to start fast).

“We did start the game with a try (against Argentina). The problem was that we conceded immediately after it. We’ve got to be able to double up from taking our opportunities.

“There is no better test than away from home against South Africa.”