By David Williams
Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau has been passed fit to play as coach Warren Gatland named an experienced side – symbolised by Gearge North – to face Fiji in their Rugby World Cup Pool C opener in Bordeaux on Sunday.
Faletau, who did not feature in any warm-up fixtures, forms the back row with captain Jac Morgan and Aaron Wainwright.
Will Rowlands and Adam Beard are the lock pairing and props Gareth Thomas and Tomas Francis make up the front row with hooker Ryan Elias, who has also overcome injury to play.
Dan Biggar leads the backline from fly-half with Gareth Davies at number nine.
Wales team to face Fiji:
Fit-again Taulupe Faletau comes in at No 8, but Dewi Lake is not involved having had limited training time since injuring his knee last month, so Ryan Elias starts at hooker.
Gareth Davies and Nick Tompkins get the nod at 9 & 12. pic.twitter.com/y6racoI68J— Simon Thomas Rugby (@simonrug) September 7, 2023
Nick Tompkins and North, playing in his fourth World Cup, are the centre pairing and Josh Adams and Louis Rees-Zammit are on the wing. Liam Williams is at fullback.
Co-captain Dewi Lake was not considered for this game having only just returned to full fitness.
“He’s not had as much training under his belt as the other hookers since he picked up that knock to his knee so Ryan Elias and Elliot Dee are selected for us for this game,” Gatland said.
“We’ve had some good clarity about what we want to achieve and the way we want to play on the weekend. It’s going to be an exciting contest on Sunday and one that we are relishing.”
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Gatland added that there was a quiet confidence in the squad after a difficult few seasons and the retirement of several leading players.
“The boys are looking sharp. There’s a great environment in this group – players working for each other, enjoying each other’s company. We’re in a good place and can’t wait to get out there.”
He warned that Fiji, who enjoyed their first-ever win over England when they won at Twickenham in their final warm-up fixture, will present a big challenge.
“Fiji are a good side with some great individual athletes and they play with a lot more structure now than maybe they have done traditionally,” he said.
Wales team:
1 Gareth Thomas
2 Ryan Elias
3 Tomas Francis
4 Will Rowlands
6 Aaron Wainwright
7 Jac Morgan (c)
8 Taulupe Faletau
9 Gareth Davies
10 Dan Biggar
11 Josh Adams
12 Nick Tompkins
13 George North
14 Louis Rees-Zammit
15 Liam Williams
Replacements:
16 Elliot Dee
17 Corey Domachowski
18 Dillon Lewis
19 Dafydd Jenkins
20 Tommy Reffell
21 Tomos Williams
22 Sam Costelow
23 Rio Dyer
