Wales waiting to get the all-clear on Dan Biggar

Wales are hopeful that flyhalf Dan Biggar will be available to face Fiji in their vital Rugby World Cup match in Oita on October 9.

The flyhalf went off in the 28th minute of a pulsating Pool D victory over Australia two days ago after making a try-saving tackle on Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi.

Biggar failed a Head Injury Assessment during Wales’ 29-25 victory over Australia on Sunday and was replaced in the 29th minute by Rhys Patchell, who had been the third-choice flyhalf before Gareth Anscombe was ruled out of the World Cup in August with a knee injury.

Wales kicking coach Neil Jenkins said Biggar was expected to make the Fiji clash and also allayed fears over the fitness of full-back Liam Williams (ankle) and centre Hadleigh Parkes (hand fracture).

“It’s only Bigs (Biggar), really, but he’s symptom-free at the minute,” Jenkins told reporters at the team’s base in Otsu.

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“As far as I understand it, it looks like he’ll be ready to go for Fiji. We haven’t trained since (the Australia game) but he’s good around the team room.

“He’s an outstanding rugby player and a huge part of our team and the way we like to play,” he said.

Jenkins also said head coach Warren Gatland has full faith in Patchell, who has been criticised for some inconsistencies in his game but was rock-solid in the crucial win over Australia.

“We can’t forget how good Rhys Patchell is as well. His kicking was excellent and his all-round game was good. He had an excellent game and played the game we want to play,” he said.

Wales' improvement in the last 18 months was exemplified by their ability to close out a game that historically, they would have more than likely lost, says @OwainJTJones https://t.co/5Xua1hkCnA

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 30, 2019

Wales are favourites to top Pool D after also claiming an opening 43-14 win over Georgia.

Fiji suffered a shock 30-27 loss to Uruguay to end their quarter-final hopes, but Jenkins said there will be no complacency, with Gatland expected to select his first-choice side for the match.

“We’re in a good place, there’s no doubting that. We’ve been in a good place for a few years now,” he said.

“But you still have to keep working hard and preparing properly. There are no easy games in Test football. We need to finish the group on top. I know we need to be ready for next weekend.”

Wales have won nine of their 11 previous meetings with Fiji, to go with a draw and a single defeat that came in the 2007 World Cup.

They have subsequently been comfortable victors in meetings at the 2011 and 2015 tournaments.

– AAP

See what Wales coach Warren Gatland and captain Alun Wyn Jones had to say after their victory over the Wallabies: