Gavin Henson has been recalled by Wales to the preliminary squad for their one-off Test against the new world champions South Africa on November 24. However, Gareth Thomas, who won his 100th cap at the World Cup, has been left out.

Henson, who last started for Wales last November, is one of seven players who did not feature in the World Cup to have been named in a 31-man squad. Of the players who made the trip to France Chris Horsman, Kevin Morgan and Dafydd James are all injured, Martyn Williams has retired and both Thomas and Will James have been left out by the caretaker coach Nigel Davies, who has opted to give younger players a chance.

Uncapped Llanelli full-back Morgan Stoddart is included. As well as Henson, Lee Byrne, Tom James, Rhys Thomas, Luke Charteris and Robin Sowden-Taylor have come back in.

Davies, who will make way for Warren Gatland after the match, his only game in charge, will cut his squad to 24 on Sunday after the next round of Heineken Cup fixtures. "Gavin Henson is one of the players who is in the category of needing a big game this weekend to convince us he is ready to return to the international arena," he said. "We need him somewhere near the peak of his powers if we are to get the best out of him - and that is what we will be looking for.

"I've spoken to Gareth Thomas about our selection policy. Although he hasn't ruled himself out of the international reckoning, he has stated publicly that it is perhaps time for younger players to come through and make an impact. In this instance, I would tend to agree with him. This could be a chance for us to have a look at how these talented young players cope with the pressure of performing on the international stage."

South Africa, meanwhile, have been dealt a blow after their lock Victor Matfield withdrew from the squad. He follows fellow World Cup winners Wikus van Heerden, Danie Rossouw (neck injuries) and Gurthro Steenkamp (hand injury) in pulling out of the tour. The Springboks are already without Percy Montgomery, Butch James, Ashwin Willemse and Gary Botha, who have all joined their European clubs for the forthcoming season.

Matfield met with coach Jake White and decided that he wanted to spend time with his family before joining Toulon in the new year. It was also confirmed that Springbok captain John Smit will not play at Twickenham on December 1 after his club Clermont Auvergne refused him permission to join the national side for that fixture.

Matfield will be replaced by Free State lock Barend Pieterse, while Tiaan Liebenberg of Western Province comes into the side in the place of Smit. Scrum-half Fourie du Preez will only join the side in Wales after getting married on Saturday and leaving on honeymoon.

Wales squad: Lee Byrne (Ospreys), Morgan Stoddart (Scarlets), Mark Jones (Scarlets), Shane Williams (Ospreys), Tom James (Blues), Tom Shanklin (Blues), Jamie Robinson (Blues), Gavin Henson (Ospreys), Sonny Parker (Ospreys), Stephen Jones (Scarlets), James Hook (Ospreys), Ceri Sweeney (Dragons), Michael Phillips (Ospreys), Dwayne Peel (Scarlets), Gareth Cooper (Gloucester); Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Alix Popham (Scarlets), Colin Charvis (Dragons), Robin Sowden-Taylor (Blues), Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Michael Owen (Dragons), Luke Charteris (Dragons), Ian Gough (Ospreys), Rhys Thomas (Dragons), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), T Rhys Thomas (Blues), Gethin Jenkins (Blues, capt), Duncan Jones (Ospreys).