Wales go back to basics

WALES have reverted to the starting team that beat Fiji for their crunch World Cup match against Australia today.

Dewi Lake is left out of the squad having led the side against Portugal, with Ryan Elias preferred at hooker.

Prop Henry Thomas is set to make his tournament debut from the bench.

Victory for Wales today would guarantee a place in the quarter-finals while leaving Australia on the brink of exiting a World Cup at the pool stage for the first time.

Head coach Warren Gatland said: “We gave players an opportunity against Portugal, but we just felt we were really happy with most of the performance against Fiji.

“For 65 minutes they did exactly what we asked of them, and I don’t think we got the credit we deserved for that performance. So the starting team gets another chance.

“Everyone wants to be involved and there were some disappointed players, which is exactly what we want with competition strong across the squad.”

Jac Morgan again captains the side, having played a full 80 minutes in the 32-26 win over Fiji and called in as a last-minute replacement for Tommy Reffell against Portugal last weekend.

He is joined in the back row by Aaron Wainwright and Taulupe Faletau at number eight.

However, there is no place in the match squad for Morgan’s co-captain Lake, with Elliot Dee preferred as second-choice hooker.

Adam Beard is set to win his 50th cap when he resumes his second-row partnership with Will Rowlands, behind a reinstated front row of Gareth Thomas, Elias and Tomas Francis.

Liam Williams starts at full-back, with Louis Rees-Zammit and Josh Adams on the wings, despite stiff competition from Rio Dyer, who impressed against Portugal and is named among the replacements.

George North partners Nick Tompkins in the midfield, with Dan Biggar and Gareth Davies as half-backs.

Reffell misses out on a place in the matchday squad after pulling up in the warm-up in Nice with a tight calf, with Taine Basham providing cover on the bench. Thomas, who was unavailable for the opening two games with a hamstring complaint, replaces Dillon Lewis on the bench, while Gareth Anscombe is selected ahead of Sam Costelow as fly-half cover.

Gatland said: “We are happy with our position going into this game with two wins and 10 points.

“There is a confidence among this group and we had a good edge to training last week. The boys have been really switched on and are very clear on the way they want to play.

“Every game in the World Cup is tough, the stakes are high and this will be no different.

“Australia have talented players and we know they will want to come out and put in a performance. — BBC