Wales names tough side and Gatland says it’s going to be an exciting contest against Fiji, one that they are relishing

Wales has named a tough side to take on the Fiji Water Flying Fijians at 7am Monday, and Welsh Coach, Warren Gatland says it’s going to be an exciting contest against Fiji, and one that they are relishing.

Gareth Davies is selected at scrum-half and Dan Biggar at fly-half. Both are featuring in their third global tournament. Davies has played a part in each of Wales’ last 12 World Cup games in the 2015 and 2019 competitions, with Biggar on the cusp of reaching 100 points scored at Rugby World Cups (currently 97 points).

George North makes his 17th Rugby World Cup appearance in his fourth tournament. He partners Nick Tompkins in the Wales midfield.

Jac Morgan captains the side at openside flanker. He is joined in the back row by Aaron Wainwright at blindside and Taulupe Faletau, who returns at No. 8 to win his 101st cap having last played in the Six Nations against tournament hosts France.

In the Wales back three, Liam Williams starts at fullback, the eighth RWC match he will have featured in. Josh Adams, who was the leading try scorer in Japan 2019 with seven including a hat-trick against Fiji, and Louis Rees-Zammit are on the wings.

Gareth Thomas is named at loosehead prop. Ryan Elias, featuring in his second tournament, is selected at hooker. Tomas Francis, in his 11th World Cup match, completes the front row.

Will Rowlands and Adam Beard pair up in the second row.

Among the replacements Tomos Williams, Sam Costelow and Rio Dyer provide the back line cover.

Elliot Dee, Corey Domachowski and Dillon Lewis are the Wales front row cover, Dafydd Jenkins, the youngest player in the Wales squad for the tournament, is the second row cover and Tommy Reffell is the final forward replacement.

Welsh Coach Gatland says the squad has worked incredibly hard over the last few months and has been preparing well for Fiji in the last couple of weeks.

He says Fiji are a good side with some great individual athletes and they play with a lot more structure now than maybe they have done traditionally.

Gatland says they have had some good clarity about what they want to achieve and the way they want to play on Monday.

He says the boys are looking sharp, there’s a great environment in this group – players working for each other, enjoying each other’s company.

Wales senior men’s XV to play Fiji at Stade de Bordeaux in their opening Pool C match of Rugby World Cup 2023

15 Liam Williams (Kubota Spears – 85 caps)

14 Louis Rees Zammit (Gloucester Rugby – 27 caps)*

13 George North (Ospreys – 114 caps)

12 Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 28 caps)*

11 Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 50 caps)

10 Dan Biggar (RC Toulonnais – 109 caps)

9 Gareth Davies (Scarlets – 69 caps);

1 Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 22 caps)*

2 Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 34 caps)

3 Tomas Francis (Provence Rugby – 72 caps)

4 Will Rowlands (Racing 92 – 25 caps)*

5 Adam Beard (Ospreys – 47 caps)

6 Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 39 caps)

7 Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 11 caps) captain*

8 Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 100 caps)

Replacements 16 Elliot Dee (Dragons – 43 caps)

17 Corey Domachowski ( Cardiff Rugby – 2 caps)*

18 Dillon Lewis (Harlequins – 51 caps)

19 Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 7 caps)*

20 Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 10 caps)*

21 Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 48 caps)

22 Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 4 caps)*

23 Rio Dyer (Dragons – 9 caps)*

Meanwhile the Flying Fijians are expected to name their team tonight.

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