Wales stick with tried-and-tested
GATLAND: SOME DISAPPOINTED BOYS ARE MISSING OUT
Cardiff
Coach Warren Gatland has stuck with Gareth Anscombe at flyhalf for a Wales team bidding for a ninth consecutive victory when they take on South Africa tomorrow.
The Welsh squad, which will don rainbow laces in support of former captain Gareth Thomas after he was the victim of a homophobic attack earlier in the week, shows just one injury-enforced change from the one that edged Australia 9-6 a fortnight ago.
Saracens back Liam Williams, who scored a brace of tries from the wing as he won his 50th cap in the 74-24 crushing of Tonga last weekend, comes in at fullback in place of Leigh Halfpenny.
Halfpenny suffered concussion after a late shot by Wallaby centre Samu Kerevi, an action that went unpunished.
Gatland made 14 changes for the victory over Tonga but has reverted to the side that defeated the Wallabies.
Williams lines up in the backline alongside fellow British and Irish Lion George North and Josh Adams.
Scarlets duo Hadleigh Parkes and Jonathan Davies are named in midfield with Gareth Davies and Anscombe continuing their partnership at half-back.
In the pack Nicky Smith, Ken Owens and Tomas Francis are again named in the front-row with Adam Beard, unbeaten in a Wales jersey, lining up alongside captain Alun Wyn Jones.
Dan Lydiate, Justin Tipuric and Ross Moriarty pack down in the back-row for a third time together this autumn.
“Leigh (Halfpenny) misses out with concussion but it’s a great opportunity for Liam (Williams) at full-back,” said Gatland.
“We are really pleased with how the bench has gone in the first three games so we will be looking for that impact again.”
Gatland admitted that picking the team had been tough, notably given the sterling shows flyhalves Dan Biggar and Rhys Patchell produced against Tonga.
“There were a lot of tough selection calls. The team last week was impressive and there are some disappointed boys who miss out,” the Kiwi said. –