Rugby World Cup 2023: Wales v Argentina – Williams and Biggar fit for quarter-final

Liam Williams and Dan Biggar
Liam Williams and Dan Biggar will appear in a third World Cup quarter-final
Venue: Stade de Marseille, Marseille Date: Saturday 14 October Kick-off: 16:00 BST
Coverage: Live BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio 5 Live Sport, BBC Sounds, BBC Sport website & app; live text commentary on BBC Sport website & app

Wales full-back Liam Williams and fly-half Dan Biggar have been passed fit for the World Cup quarter-final against Argentina in Marseille on Saturday.

Aaron Wainwright switches from flanker to replace Taulupe Faletau at number eight with Tommy Reffell called in at open-side flanker.

Captain Jac Morgan reverts from open-side to blind-side while co-captain Dewi Lake is named as a replacement.

However fly-half Gareth Anscombe misses out with a groin issue.

Centre George North will become the first Welshman to appear in a fourth World Cup quarter-final.

Wales have selected 14 of the starting side that defeated Australia and Fiji in the pool stage, with the exception of the injured Faletau who has been ruled out of the tournament with a broken arm.

Two fit, one missing

Williams picked up a knee injury during the 43-19 victory over Georgia and left the Nantes stadium on crutches but has recovered in time.

Anscombe suffered a groin injury during the warm-up to that match and was replaced by Sam Costelow.

Biggar came on to the bench but was an unused replacement having just recovered from a pectoral injury in the record 40-6 victory against Australia in Lyon.

Anscombe was an early replacement for Biggar in that game and produced a 23-point player-of-the-match performance.

Replacing Faletau

Wales lost Faletau in the Georgia win though his place in the 33-man squad has been taken by scrum-half Kieran Hardy with head coach Warren Gatland insisting he had enough back-row cover.

Tommy Reffell and Jac Morgan walking off pitch
Tommy Reffell and Jac Morgan have previously started only one Test together

Gatland has opted against naming a specialist six, such as veteran flanker Dan Lydiate, with Christ Tshiunza covering the back row in the replacements.

The Wales coach hopes his side can reach a third semi-final in the last four World Cup tournaments.

“We had a goal of making the quarter-finals which we have achieved. Now it’s about building on that momentum,” said Gatland.

“All our preparation has been geared to getting to this spot and we’re very much relishing the opportunity.

“We’re expecting another tough encounter this weekend against a physical Argentina side. We haven’t had the perfect performance yet, but we have shown that we are a hard team to beat.

“There is a lot more growth in this squad – collectively and individually – and we can’t wait to get out there on Saturday.”

Wales team to face Argentina: L Williams; Rees-Zammit, North, Tompkins, Adams; Biggar, G Davies; G Thomas, Elias, Francis, Rowlands, Beard, Morgan (capt), Reffell, Wainwright.

Replacements: Lake, Domachowski, D Lewis, D Jenkins, Tshiunza, T Williams, Costelow, Dyer.

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