A one-sided defeat to New Zealand on Saturday will have lasting consequences for Wales after captain Alun Wyn Jones was ruled out of their autumn series due to the shoulder injury he suffered in Cardiff.
The Ospreys stalwart, 36, was withdrawn just 19 minutes into Wales' 54-16 battering against the All Blacks and will require surgery on the same left shoulder he hurt in the build-up to the British and Irish Lions tour.
The Welsh Rugby Union also confirmed Dragons back-rower Ross Moriarty will need an operation as a result of the hit that earned Nepo Laulala a yellow card at the Principality Stadium.
Dragons star Moriarty, 27, screamed in pain after ricocheting off Ethan Blackadder and into prop Laulala, who was adjudged to have hit his target dangerously and shown a yellow card.
Both Jones and Moriarty are expected to be sidelined for "a number of months" and are now doubts to be fit in time for the 2022 Six Nations.
Head coach Wayne Pivac will also not be able to call upon the services of Taulupe Faletau this month after he was ruled out due to the ankle injury that's prevented him from making an appearance so far this season.
Three-time Lions tourist Faletau, 30, was named in Wales' autumn squad despite lacking match fitness, but he'll now return to Bath to continue rehabilitation.
All three players will miss Saturday's Test against South Africa, as well as their upcoming fixtures against Fiji (Nov. 14) and Australia (Nov. 20).
It was announced on Tuesday that Faletau will leave The Rec at the end of this season, with Cardiff expected to sign the 86-cap star after six years in the West Country.
Cardiff flanker Shane Lewis-Hughes and Ospreys lock Rhys Davies have been called into the squad as cover.
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The injury update is a grim development as Wales prepare to welcome back a host of their regular stars for Saturday's clash against South Africa.
Pivac was without a number of injured players for the loss to New Zealand, where the team was also unable to call upon their Premiership -based talents due to the fixture falling just outside the November Test window.
Cardiff centre Willis Halaholo will rejoin the squad on Friday after serving a 10-day isolation period following his coronavirus diagnosis, while hooker Ken Owens remains a doubt after he pulled out of Saturday's squad on short notice with a back injury.
The Springboks made three changes to the starting XV that saw them to a 31-29 win over the All Blacks in October, with Herschel Jantjies and Damian Willemse coming in at scrum-half and full-back, respectively.
Jesse Kriel will move from the centre to the wing as a replacement for Sbu Nkosi, meanwhile, after the latter was denied a travel visa because he didn't have enough free pages in his passport.
South Africa are the reigning world champions and recently beat the Lions 2-1 in a series, but coach Jacques Nienaber's side will be hoping to see the Springboks to victory in Cardiff for the first time since 2013.
