Gatland rates Wales’ chances

Wales coach Warren Gatland has declared his squad ‘‘good enough to win the World Cup’’ after including lock Corey Hill as a surprise selection in his 31-man squad heading to Japan.

The second-rower has not played for the Six Nations champions since February and has yet to prove his fitness after returning from a fractured leg.

Gatland has included the 27-year-old Hill as one of four locks in his squad. The others are captain Alun Wyn Jones, Jake Ball and Adam Beard.

Hill will not be ready to play until at least the second Pool D game against Australia on September 29, but Gatland says that’s a risk he’s prepared to take, with loose forward Aaron Shingler also able to cover the lock position.

Gatland has gone with five props in his squad, rather than the six some had been anticipating, in the form of Nicky Smith, Wyn Jones, Rhys Carre, Tomas Francis and Dillon Lewis.

‘‘Our original thinking was six props but we’ve gone with five,’’ Gatland told reporters at his squad announcement.

‘‘There always has to be a compromise in the squad. We’ll be doing some work with Wyn Jones in terms of covering that tighthead position.’’

Carre won his first international cap in Sunday’s 22-17 loss to Ireland in Cardiff but has got the nod ahead of the more accomplished Rob Evans and Samson Lee.

‘‘When we decided to go with the five props, one of the big discussions was how durable they are,’’ Gatland told media in Wales.

‘‘Rob hasn’t trained a lot. He came in with a shoulder injury, then a neck injury and a few back issues. Samson has missed a few campaigns, had a hamstring issue during the campaign.

‘‘Someone like Rhys Carre has made incredible progress. He’s dropped 10kg . . . he’s a big man.’’

Wales have opted for six loose forwards in James Davies, Ross Moriarty, Josh Navidi, Shingler, Justin Tipuric and Aaron Wainwright in their pack.

Gareth Davies, Aled Davies and Tomos Williams are the halfbacks picked, while Dan Biggar and Rhys Patchell will contest the No 10 position, with Jarrod Evans missing out.

Jonathan Davies, New Zealand-born Hadleigh Parkes and Owen Watkin cover the midfield, with Josh Adams, Hallam Amos, Leigh Halfpenny, George North and Liam Williams contending for the back-three spots.

‘‘I think it’s [a squad] good enough to win the World Cup,’’ Gatland added. ‘‘We’ve created a depth in this squad and we’ve left out some real quality players. We go there with a lot of belief and self-confidence.

‘‘In the past, you may have been happy with 24 and others making up the numbers. But this time we’ve left out some class players.’’

Gatland also tagged the looming World Cup as the most contestable in a long time.

‘‘The All Blacks losing in Perth was a shock but they just showed what they can do the following week when their minds are on it. South Africa are improving all the time.

‘‘There are six or seven teams capable of winning the World Cup.’’

But he felt Wales were as capable as any of them.

‘‘We go there with a lot of confidence. England will also be tough out there. They have a huge side. The northern hemisphere sides have got a great chance of doing well in this World Cup.’’

Wales are in Pool D in Japan and open their campaign against Georgia in Toyota on September 23. They will also come up against Australia, Fiji and Uruguay.