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19'
FijiWalesJames DaviesRoss Moriarty

Wales make changes for blockbuster World Cup clash with Fiji

Ross Moriarty will join Ken Owens and Alun Wyn Jones in the Welsh starting lineup for their clash against Fiji. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Wales have made two changes for their third World Cup Pool D encounter against Fiji on Wednesday (6:45pm local).

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Both changes to the starting XV come in the back row with Ross Moriarty and James Davies coming into the side at number eight and openside flanker, respectively, with Josh Navidi switching to blindside flanker.

The tight five remains the same from Wales’ opening two victories, with Wyn Jones, Ken Owens and Tomas Francis packing down in the front-row, while Jake Ball and captain Alun Wyn Jones continue their partnership in the second-row.

Continue reading below…

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The backline for Wales remains unchanged, with Gareth Davies and Dan Biggar named as the halves, and Hadleigh Parkes and Jonathan Davies partnering in the midfield.

Josh Adams, George North and Liam Williams line-up as the back-three.

Elliot Dee, Rhys Carre and Dillon Lewis provide the front-row cover on the bench with Aaron Shingler and Aaron Wainwright completing the forward contingent. Tomos Williams, Rhys Patchell and Owen Watkin are named as the backline replacements.

Wales team to play Fiji: 

1. Wyn Jones (17 Caps)
2. Ken Owens (69 Caps)
3. Tomas Francis (45 Caps)
4. Jake Ball (38 Caps)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (130 Caps) – captain
6. Josh Navidi (21 Caps)
7. James Davies (5 Caps)
8. Ross Moriarty (36 Caps)
9. Gareth Davies (46 Caps)
10. Dan Biggar (75 Caps)
11. Josh Adams (16 Caps)
12. Hadleigh Parkes (20 Caps)
13. Jonathan Davies (78 Caps)
14. George North (88 Caps)
15. Liam Williams (60 Caps)
Replacements:
16. Elliot Dee (24 Caps)
17. Rhys Carre (1 Cap)
18. Dillon Lewis (17 Caps)
19. Aaron Shingler (22 Caps)
20. Aaron Wainwright (14 Caps)
21. Tomos Williams (11 Caps)
22. Rhys Patchell (15 Caps)
23. Owen Watkin (17 Caps)
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– Wales Rugby Union

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Comments on RugbyPass

G
GP 11 minutes ago
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I skim read your comment re sorry Afoa , which year you meant. But I totally disagree re Penney. He won 4 titles in a row with Canterbury.You can say "different level " all you like. We did not have the cattle mid season. Read the team sheet round 5 or 6 v Blues at Eden Park, compared to penultimate round when we beat the Blues here. I ray reiterate, go and support some one else.

17 Go to comments
O
Oh no, not him again? 30 minutes ago
Eddie Jones on Twickenham return: 'It wasn't bad until some clown abused me'

The media really went after Eddie and the worse of humanity took it as a green to act abusively towards him.


I'm sure the RFU will apologise to Eddie but maybe the BBC owe him an apology for stoking these flames?

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ch 42 minutes ago
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Spot on. My thoughts exactly.

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MP 49 minutes ago
Eddie Jones on Twickenham return: 'It wasn't bad until some clown abused me'

Sad to hear. Love Eddie.

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SadersMan 50 minutes ago
‘Right a few wrongs’: Ex-Wales flyer’s message of intent with Crusaders

Learn to read bud. My mention of Afoa is preceded by the intro "As for Razor . . ." clearly referring to 2023. And your nitpicking about my metaphor use is ignored based on your literacy challenges. Once again I reiterate, Penney is a Loser SR Coach, based on fact, not opinion. The sooner he leaves the better (opinion).

17 Go to comments
R
RedWarrior 59 minutes ago
Four Ireland talking points after they soundly see off hyped Fiji

I think you are trying to create a grievance here that doesn't exist.

Setting Ireland up again as a 'Mighty' team (self promoted is your implication I'm sure) that has fallen is just another back handed way of having a go at them.

This is just an analysis of permutations of the autumn series, nothing more.

2 Go to comments
T
TI 1 hour ago
Scotland 'expected' to beat Australia: 4 Murrayfield talking points

As a neutral fan, watching the Russell-Tuipulotu-Jones axis is a treat. Those guys are on another level, most likely the world’s best 10-12-13 combo attack-wise.


Also, it was heart-warming to see Tuipulotu’s grandma and mom watch their boy score a try and play great in a winning game. They must have been filled with pride.

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Utiku Old Boy 1 hour ago
'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

I just don't see any progress in their game plan- still unable to cope with rush D, back-line is clunky - not fluid (despite the same players being together for some time), unbalanced lose trio - Ardie has gone backwards and we wasted his best years in a position he was never going to flourish in (those who say he won WPOY in that position miss the point that he would have won at any position but would definitely have still won it at 7), and I don't see an ability of this team to play with confidence knowing their roles. Handling and skills have to be the worst seen for years with sloppy and dropped passes, people not expecting passes - kick-off receptions poor, on and on. This was a hall mark of his Crusader teams. I wonder if Razor wanted to show he could replicate his first year at Saders with the same players Foster used. I struggle to understand his rationale to keep that squad mostly intact (except for retirements or off-shore contracts) and ignore talent emerging in SR. No wonder good SR players are exiting. Rant over. As is my enthusiasm for AB rugby - which is mostly being played by Boks, Irish, French and even Scotland!

54 Go to comments
f
fl 1 hour ago
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great to see Fin Smith given a shot. Hoping against hope that he and Ford are trusted to run things in the 6N. We urgently need a fly-half who is capable of bringing his outside backs into the game.

2 Go to comments
S
SadersMan 1 hour ago
Scotland 'expected' to beat Australia: 4 Murrayfield talking points

Says no excuses then keeps rattling off a list of excuses called reasons.

2 Go to comments
T
TI 1 hour ago
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Thanks for bringing up Umaga-Jensen, another positional specialist, who’s been slept on. Why not give him a trial against Tier 2 opposition … I will never understand this. He’s proven time and again at super rugby level, that he’s got what it takes.

49 Go to comments
C
CO 1 hour ago
TJ Perenara clarifies reference to the Treaty in All Blacks' Haka

NZ is a mmp democracy and parliament sets law whether Perenara likes it or not, inserting his political bias into the Allblacks haka is silly, of course the entire team doesn't agree with him. The haka is a national icon that doesn't need Perenara or any Allblack making it divisive. Tepati of course is about 2 percent of the vote. Nobody wants to eradicate Maori, the Act leader is of course part Maori.

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Tom 1 hour ago
Australia player ratings vs Scotland | 2024 Autumn Nations Series

Australia are on the right track but people got ahead of themselves when they beat England. England's defence in that game was an absolute shambles and gifted Australia so many points. They've still got a long way to go but Scotland are a very good side and Joe Schmidt is definitely making progress.

1 Go to comments
S
SJ 1 hour ago
England player ratings vs Japan | 2024 Autumn Nations Series

Not entirely sure I was watching the same game.

Overpraised - a result of seeing an actual victory, I guess.

Furbank defensively inept - once again he faces a 2 on 1, sits back waiting for the pass which doesn't come and the man carrying the ball does him on the inside. AGAIN!

2 Go to comments
G
GH 1 hour ago
'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

And who is at fault, the coach who dont rotate, that players will keep on playing without guts

54 Go to comments
G
GH 1 hour ago
'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

SR is afraid of failure, thats why he keep on picking the same shitty backline

54 Go to comments
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RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Sione Tuipulotu's Scotland emphatically end Wallabies grand slam dream

This was going to be the Test with fatigue accumulating. Super performance against England but Australia took advantage brilliantly of England's in between week between NZ and SA. This was always going to be a fully committed fully prepared Scotland team and they dominated.

They have a shot to nothing against Ireland with no ranking points to be lost and all to be gained. Ireland have picked it up a gear with the second team inflicting a heavy defeat on Fiji and leaving scores out there. With a meaner defense than Scotland's it might be a step too far for Australia.

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SC 2 hours ago
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How does Jeff Wilson not remember that South Africa lost to Ireland at home and Argentina away?


Regardless 11-2 is a great season and Springboks are the best team in the world with France, New Zealand, and Ireland chasing.

4 Go to comments
T
Toaster 2 hours ago
'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

How do you feel about Schmidts progress now?


When you say turners then around - they were horrendous and got absolutely pumped by wales at the World Cup and by Argentina recently


So it’s not hard to improve from that


And now they play a decent side (albeit still not top four) and get pumped 4 tries to 1


The ABs have their own issues but I’ll take our 6 class props and other areas of improvement every day

54 Go to comments
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Utiku Old Boy 3 hours ago
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Umaga-Jensen at 26 has the attributes of a 2nd-5 and has moved past injuries that hampered his earlier elevation to AB status. I agree with TI that we persist with playing people out of position and ignore the best positional players from selection.

49 Go to comments
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