SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 5 hrs 41 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Rugby World Cup | Semi-Finals
Oct 27, 2019 at 9am UK
 
Wales
16-19
South Africa
Adams (65')
FT

Warren Gatland: 'Liam Williams is undoubtedly a big loss for Wales'

:Headline: Warren Gatland: 'Liam Williams is undoubtedly a big loss for Wales': ID:376158: from db_amp
Wales full-back sidelined after suffering ankle injury during training.

Warren Gatland says that an injured Liam Williams is “undoubtedly a big loss” from Wales’s World Cup campaign.

Full-back Williams’ absence has been confirmed from Sunday’s semi-final against South Africa, and then either the final or third and fourth place play-off next week.

The Welsh Rugby Union said he suffered an ankle injury sustained in an accidental collision during training.

Rugby World Cup – Dan Biggar v Handre Pollard (PA Graphics)

Leigh Halfpenny will feature at full-back instead of Williams against the Springboks, and centre Jonathan Davies has been named in the team after recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him for last weekend’s tense quarter-final victory over France.

“He (Williams) is undoubtedly a big loss from an attacking perspective, and what he has achieved in the game in the last year or so,” Wales head coach Gatland said.

“But bringing in the experience of someone like Leigh Halfpenny gives us a different element.

“He is defensively probably the best full-back in the world in terms of his aerial game and coverage defensively.

“We had a long debate about whether we started Leigh in the first place and potentially move Liam to the wing.

“It is a change, but we don’t think that we are weakening the side in any way with the changes we have made.”
- Warren Gatland

“There was a long discussion about that, so Leigh was probably unlucky he was not in the team in the first place.

“We are disappointed for a world-class player like Liam, but we are happy bringing in someone with the experience of Leigh.

“It is a change, but we don’t think that we are weakening the side in any way with the changes we have made.”

British and Irish Lions Test player Williams was in contention for a remarkable individual grand slam this year.

Aside from chasing World Cup glory, he helped Wales land the Six Nations title in March, then shone when Saracens won the Heineken Champions Cup and Gallagher Premiership.

Wales Liam Williams has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament in Japan (David Davies/PA)

The experienced Halfpenny has made one start in the tournament – against final pool stage opponents Uruguay – and went on as a replacement against Georgia.

Davies, meanwhile, replaces Owen Watkin, lining up alongside Hadleigh Parkes in midfield, and in a third change, number eight Ross Moriarty takes over from Josh Navidi.

Navidi suffered a hamstring injury in the France game, and had already been ruled out of the rest of the tournament.

Gatland added: “He (Davies) has come through training this week.

“He was very close last week and he made a decision last week to rule himself out for the betterment of the team.

“Hopefully we can get through the rain today with the training and it won’t affect us too much.

“We will have a shorter session this afternoon, and we are excited where we are at the moment.”

Elsewhere, scrum-half Gareth Davies will win his 50th cap, partnering Dan Biggar at half-back in Yokohama.

Gatland retains the same front-five that has served him well during the tournament, with skipper Alun Wyn Jones making his 142nd Test appearance for Wales and the Lions.

That puts him level with Italy captain Sergio Parisse on international rugby’s all-time appearance chart, just six Tests behind New Zealand World Cup-winning skipper Richie McCaw.

amp_article__376158 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-10-25 07:26:15:
html db last update - 2021-03-09 21:48:06 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Liam Williams

Click here for more stories about Wales

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .