VERSAILLES, France (AP) — Gareth Anscombe will continue as the Wales flyhalf while Dan Biggar is injured after a strong team was picked to play Georgia at the Rugby World Cup on Monday, three days early.
Wales, already through to the quarterfinals with three out of three wins, will secure first place in Pool C if it earns a minimum point against Georgia on Saturday in Nantes.
“We want to carry on (what we have been doing) over the last four weeks,” Wales attack coach Alex King said. “We understand the threat Georgia pose after (beating Wales 13-12) in Cardiff 11 months ago, the performance they put in against Fiji (lost 17-12) on the weekend.”
Georgia has a draw and two losses and can’t rise any higher in the pool than its current fourth place.
Wales changed six of the starting XV that beat Australia by a record 40-6 in Lyon on Sept. 24.
Dewi Lake has come as hooker and captain, Dafydd Jenkins joins Will Rowlands in the second row, and Tommy Reffell was in the back row to give Jac Morgan a rest.
Tomos Williams swapped in for a tired Gareth Davies at scrumhalf, and Anscombe starts after replacing Biggar against Australia. Biggar injured a pectoral muscle in the 12th minute and Anscombe booted 23 points, tying Biggar’s Wales game record in Rugby World Cups. Wales hope Biggar will be available for the quarterfinals next week.
Rio Dyer replaced Josh Adams on the wing.
“(In the) Australia (game we) came together,” King said. “We can keep getting better and better. We have high standards now. It was great to get five points and qualify but I think we have got to finish (the pool well).”
No. 8 Taulupe Faletau and wing Louis Rees-Zammit will be the only Wales players to start every pool game in the tournament.
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Wales: Liam Williams, Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Nick Tompkins, Rio Dyer, Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Taulupe Faletau, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright, Dafydd Jenkins, Will Rowlands, Tomas Francis, Dewi Lake (captain), Gareth Thomas. Reserves: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Henry Thomas, Christ Tshiunza, Taine Basham, Gareth Davies, Sam Costelow, Mason Grady.
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