Wales coach Warren Gatland has selected an experienced team with thirteen players who have already participated in a World Cup for the clash against Fiji on Sunday (9:00 p.m.) in Bordeaux. Led by Toulon opener Dan Biggar, two points from becoming the top Welsh scorer in World Cup history, and center George North, who will play his 4th in the world, this first Leek XV of the edition 2023 reveals few surprises.
Toby Faletau, absent in Japan in 2019 due to a collarbone injury, returns to the center of the 3rd line. He will be mentored by Aaron Wainwright and World Cup novice captain Jac Morgan. Following the recent announcement of the international retirement of legend Alun Wyn Jones (37 years old, 158 caps), the second row will be made up of Adam Beard and Will Rowlands, future Racing 92 player.
Executioner of the Fijians in 2019 in Japan with a hat-trick, Josh Adams will start on the left wing, the other wing being reserved for the nugget of Gloucester Louis Rees-Zammit who will make his big debut in the competition, as will center Nick Tompkins . Holder in 2015 and 2019, Liam Williams (32), who signed up with the Japanese club Kubota Spears in June, was retained at the back by Warren Gatland, who will become the first coach on Sunday to play five World Cups.
Pays de Wales: L. Williams – Rees-Zammit, North, Tompkins, Adams – (o) Biggar, (m) G. Davies – Morgan (cap), Faletau, Wainwright – Beard, Rowlands – Francis, Elias, G. Thomas
Subs: Dee, Domachowski, Lewis, D. Jenkins, Reffell, T. Williams, Costelow, Dyer
