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Wales rotate squad for final pool match against Georgia
By Josh Raisey
Warren Gatland has rotated his Wales squad for their final pool match against Georgia on Saturday in Nantes, making six changes from the side that beat Australia two weeks ago to secure their quarter-final place.
Although they have already qualified, Wales still need a point to guarantee they top Pool C, assuming Fiji pick up a bonus point against Portugal in their final match of the pool.
Gareth Anscombe starts at fly-half after Dan Biggar suffered a chest injury against in the record 40-6 win over the Wallabies, with Sam Costelow providing cover on the bench. Scrum-half Tomos Williams and winger Rio Dyer are the other two newcomers in the backline from that victory, replacing Gareth Davies and Josh Adams, respectively.
In the pack, Dewi Lake returns to captain the side at hooker, with flanker Jac Morgan being rested completely. Tommy Reffell takes Morgan's place in the No7 jersey. The final change in the starting XV is in the second-row, where Dafydd Jenkins replaces Adam Beard.
Wales XV
15. Liam Williams (Kubota Spears – 87 caps)
14. Louis Rees Zammit (Gloucester Rugby – 30 caps)
13. George North (Ospreys– 116 caps)
12. Nick Tompkins (Saracens– 30 caps)
11. Rio Dyer (Dragons– 12 caps)
10. Gareth Anscombe (Suntory Sungoliath – 37 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby– 51 caps)
1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys– 24 caps)
2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys– 10 caps) captain
3. Tomas Francis (Provence Rugby – 75 caps)
4. Will Rowlands (Racing 92 – 27 caps)
5. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs– 10 caps)
6. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons– 41 caps)
7. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers– 11 caps)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby– 103 caps)
Replacements
16. Elliot Dee (Dragons– 45 caps)
17. Nicky Smith (Ospreys– 45 caps)
18. Henry Thomas (Montpellier – 3 caps)
19. Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs– 8 caps)
20. Taine Basham (Dragons– 15 caps)
21. Gareth Davies (Scarlets – 72 caps)
22. Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 6 caps)
23. Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby– 5 caps)
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Latest Comments
As I said, there are legitimate criticisms of Foster and I made plenty of them.
Absolutely injury was affecting Cane’s performances.
But if you are going to do that, you have to acknowledge Foster’s role in the moments that went right.
During his tenure, comments sections were packed with how the latest win had nothing to do with Foster it was all his assistants.
And when they lost, you’d think Foster and Cane were the only two people on the field the way the public carried on.
Christ it was embarrassing.
Go to commentsKiwicentric response, no surprises there. But even if you look at a team like the Tahs, last this year, they are truly formidable on paper! The end of then Rebels may spell the beginning of Super success for Oz.
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