Tonight's rugby news as key Wales players injured and Gatland ...

Here are the latest rugby headlines on Saturday, July 6.

Wales face a crucial 24 hours ahead of next week's second Test as they assess a number of injured players.

Prop Gareth Thomas looks a serious doubt after being forced to leave the pitch with a leg injury during Saturday morning's 25-16 defeat to the Wallabies, while Welsh man-of-the-match Aaron Wainwright limped off towards the end of the game.

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Liam Williams also picked up a knee injury, while debutant Josh Hathaway was another who appeared to be struggling with a late arm problem.

It all means Gatland could be forced into at least some changes for the match in Melbourne on Saturday. Asked for an update in the immediate aftermath of the match, Gatland said: "I don't know. I haven't had a medical (update). I'll talk to the physios and assess them tomorrow."

Warren Gatland has been urged by two of his former stars to stick with the players who came up just short against Australia.

Jamie Roberts and Sam Warburton both believe Gatland should keep faith with Ben Thomas, Mason Grady and Owen Watkin for next week's second Test, despite the combination failing to quite click.

Thomas was decent on his first start at outside-half, although replacement Sam Costelow did make a big impact when he came on in the final 10 minutes.

Roberts, speaking on Sky Sports, said: "One of the biggest challenges Warren Gatland now faces is does he roll the dice on selection? I'm not quite convinced they have solved the problem with the 10, 12, 13 combination today but it is the first time they have played together.

"But I think you give them another chance. I know Warren Gatland, he's stubborn. Once he has made his decision, I think he backs them again next week. He would have enjoyed the energy Nick Tompkins and Costelow brought off the bench but he has to give them another opportunity. It is pointless chopping and changing again."

Warburton says Wales must decide on their identity, adding: "I agree. I would stick. Wales need to know what team they are. Are they the power team off nine they want to be to force errors? Personally I don't think we have the personnel to be that team or are we a team that tries to find space. I think we looked better when we did that."

By Ed Elliot, PA

Ireland wing James Lowe went from hero to zero as world champions South Africa underlined their status as Test rugby's top-ranked nation with a gripping 27-20 win in Pretoria.

Lowe produced a sensational offload to set up a debut try for Jamie Osborne and thought he had brought Andy Farrell's men level with a superb breakaway score in the second half.

But the New Zealand-born player's eye-catching effort was ruled out on review for an adjudged infringement by Ronan Kelleher before he gifted Cheslin Kolbe a try to put the Springboks back in control.

Conor Murray and Ryan Baird crossed for Ireland late on, either side of a penalty try for South Africa, in a remarkable finish at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

But Rassie Erasmus' side, aided by 10 points from the boot of fly-half from Handre Pollard, held on to seize the initiative ahead of next weekend's second - and final - Test in Durban.

In worrying scenes, Ireland also saw scrum-half Craig Casey carried off on a stretcher after he hit his head on the pitch during a forceful tackle from RG Snyman.

Farrell's tourists were seeking a fourth-successive Irish victory over South Africa following a captivating pool-stage win at last year's World Cup in France.

The Springboks recovered from that 13-8 Paris defeat to retain the Webb Ellis Cup, while forthright comments emanating from their camp since have further stoked a growing rivalry between Test rugby's two leading sides.

Home supporters humorously fanned the flames by adapting the words of Ireland's unofficial World Cup anthem 'Zombie', chanting "in your head, in your head, Rassie, Rassie" in reference to the frequent mind games of head coach Erasmus.

South Africa responded to the big build-up and made a rapid start as jet-heeled wing Arendse collected Siya Kolisi's pass to sidestep Osborne and cross on the left.

Ireland travelled to the southern hemisphere having bounced back from a familiar World Cup quarter-final exit by retaining the Six Nations title.

Jack Crowley's 13-minute penalty put the visitors on the scoreboard before Pollard twice split the posts at the other end to move the Springboks 10 points ahead.

Farrell's men were struggling to build momentum amid a low-energy first-half display.

Crowley missed a routine penalty to reduce the deficit before Lowe's magnificent offload as he was ploughed into touch by a combination of Kolbe and Jesse Kriel, after a slick pass from Dan Sheehan gave international newcomer Osborne a simple score.

Ireland were perhaps fortunate to only trail 13-8 at the break.

Erasmus brought on all six of his replacement forwards 10 minutes into the second period in an attempt to remain on top of the physical battle, just before visiting prop Andrew Porter departed with a bloodied hand.

Following his fine first-half assist, Lowe looked to have restored parity by darting clear to touch down.

But referee Luke Pearce disallowed the 58th-minute effort on review as replacement hooker Kelleher was deemed to have played the ball on the floor during the turnover.

Ireland's misfortune was compounded by the worrying departure of Casey, before Lowe, in his attempts to keep the ball from going into touch, left Kolbe with an unchallenged run to the try line.

The contest then burst into life during a frenetic finish during which the Springboks were reduced to 14 men when Kurt-Lee Arendse was sin binned following repeated infringements inside the hosts' 22.

Murray - on for the stricken Casey - dived over to put Ireland back in touching distance but a penalty try for the Springboks, prior to Baird's consolation, ultimately decided a breathless encounter.

By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent

England captain Jamie George reflected on the fine margins that allowed New Zealand to claim a 16-15 victory in their series opener in Dunedin.

The tourists led 15-10 when Marcus Smith conjured a try for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso in the 47th minute but two penalties from Damian McKenzie saved the All Blacks from an upset at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Smith missed eight points from the kicking tee, including one penalty almost in front of the posts, as England fell just short on a day when a famous victory was there for the taking.

"First and foremost I'm very proud of this team. Not a lot of teams come to New Zealand and do that and that shows a huge amount of growth in this team," George told Sky Sports.

"We wanted to make people back home very proud and I think we did that with our effort. It was very fine margins.

"There are definitely some areas to look at - scrum is one, breakdown is probably another.

"We'll do a lot of honest work this week and make sure we go to Eden Park fully prepared. We'll learn and we'll grow and we'll get better.

"We've got to learn fast, which is something we pride ourselves on. We'll be as prepared as we possibly can be. There will be a few sore bodies.

"We have to get the bodies and the minds right because this is a really exciting week for us."