Wales team to face Fiji at World Cup

Ross Moriarty in action for Wales v Scotland during 2018 Autumn Internationals Ross Moriarty will get his first start of the tournament on Wednesday (Image: David Davies/PA)

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has made two changes to the starting line-up for Wednesday's World Cup clash against Fiji in Oita.

Flanker James Davies and number eight Ross Moriarty both make their first starts of the tournament as Wales target a victory that would confirm a quarter-final place.

Davies replaces Justin Tipuric, while Josh Navidi moves from number eight to blindside flanker instead of Aaron Wainwright, with Moriarty featuring following two powerful performances off the bench.

Gatland has otherwise kept the side the same as that which accounted for Georgia and Australia in Wales' first two World Cup games.

Davies, meanwhile, will line up alongside his brother - centre Jonathan - as Wales target a third successive World Cup victory over Fiji.

Fly-half Dan Biggar, who failed a head injury assessment during the Wallabies clash in Tokyo eight days ago, is fit to resume.

If Wales beat Fiji and then defeat Uruguay next Sunday, they will reach the last-eight as unbeaten group winners for the first time in a World Cup campaign since 1987.

Among the replacements, Gatland has named Saracens prop Rhys Carre, who made his Test debut during Wales' World Cup warm-up Tests.

And flanker Aaron Shingler will again provide second-row cover for Jake Ball and captain Alun Wyn Jones, with Wainwright as the back-row substitute.

Gatland commented: "When Fiji get some confidence and belief they are incredibly dangerous and they were really strong in that second half (against Georgia).

"They have got some real threats and we have just got to make sure we focus on ourselves.

"They are dangerous, so we've got to make sure we shut their space down and shut their time on their ball.

"One of the pleasing things of the first two games is how we well we've started.

"Our starts have been exceptional and it is important that we start well on Wednesday and hopefully take a little bit of that excitement away from Fiji.

"We are in control of our own destiny, we know that, and there are a lot of benefits about winning the group in terms of turnaround time and choices of hotels and stuff.

"Psychologically, you win the group and win your four games, you are up against a team that has lost a game. We haven't spoken at all about potential quarter-final opponents.

"It is important we focus 100 per cent on Fiji, and then we have got a four-day turnaround to Uruguay, which is going to be challenging as well, and then get through that and then we can start thinking about what's further on down the line."



Wales team to play Fiji

Forwards: 1 Wyn Jones (Scarlets), 2 Ken Owens (Scarlets), 3 Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), 4 Jake Ball (Scarlets), 5 Alun Wyn Jones (CAPTAIN, Ospreys), 6 Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), 7 James Davies (Scarlets), 8 Ross Moriarty (Dragons)

Backs: 9 Gareth Davies (Scarlets), 10 Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints), 11 Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues), 12 Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), 13 Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), 14 George North (Ospreys), 15 Liam Williams (Saracens)

Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee (Dragons), 17 Rhys Carre (Saracens), 18 Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues), 19 Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), 20 Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), 21 Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues), 22 Rhys Patchell (Scarlets), 23 Owen Watkin (Ospreys)

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