WALES wing George North will miss this weekend’s clash with South Africa at the Millennium Stadium with Liam Williams starting on the wing and Gethin Jenkins and Scott Baldwin in the front row.

Head coach Warren Gatland has also opted to leave out Justin Tipuric.

Jenkins, Baldwin and Williams coming in are the three changes from the side that lost to New Zealand last Saturday.

Jenkins and Baldwin will link up with Samson Lee to form the same front-row that started the clash against Fiji a fortnight ago.

The rest of the pack remains unchanged from last weekend’s game against the world champions, with Jake Ball partnering Alun Wyn Jones in the second row and Dan Lydiate and Newport Gwent Dragons star Taulupe Faletau lining up alongside captain Sam Warburton.

The only change in the back three sees Williams come in for the injured North.

Gatland said: “We have had a couple of changes forced upon us, with the injury to George (North) and with Paul (James) and Richard (Hibbard) returning to their clubs but we have named what we think is a very strong side.

“Last weekend was a very intense, physical encounter. The guys were disappointed but we have come in this morning, the squad are feeling fresh and the focus is looking ahead to Saturday and the test against the Springboks.

“As coaches we will be asking for the same effort, intensity and desire as last week and we want a repeat of that at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.”

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Davies (Clermont Auvergne), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Unattached), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, Capt), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Emyr Phillips (Scarlets), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Racing Metro), James King (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets).

South Africa: Willie le Roux; Cornal Hendricks, Jan Serfontein, Jean de Villiers (capt), Lwazi Mvovo; Pat Lambie, Cobus Reinach; Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Coenie Oosthuizen, Eben Etzebeth, Victor Matfield, Marcell Coetzee, Duane Vermeulen, Teboho “Oupa” Mohoje.

Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane, Julian Redelinghuys, Lood de Jager, Nizaam Carr, Francois Hougaard Handré Pollard, Damian de Allende.