Rugby World Cup 2015: Gareth Anscombe left out of Wales squad
- Published
Rugby World Cup |
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Hosts: England and Wales Dates: 18 September-31 October |
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live and sports extra, BBC Radio Wales and in Welsh on BBC Radio Cymru, plus live text commentary on every match on the BBC Sport website |
Gareth Anscombe has been omitted from Wales' 31-man World Cup squad.
The New Zealand-born fly-half made his Wales debut in the first warm-up match against Ireland but suffered an ankle injury in training last week.
Matthew Morgan takes Anscombe's place as one of three fly-halves alongside Dan Biggar and Rhys Priestland.
Prop Samson Lee has been included despite not playing since March after rupturing an Achilles tendon in Wales' 23-16 Six Nations win over Ireland.
Wales coach Warren Gatland said the tight-head could be fit to play in the Pool A opener against Uruguay in Cardiff on 20 September but said they could not "afford to carry more injuries" by risking taking Anscombe.
BBC Wales Sport rugby correspondent Gareth Charles: |
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"Even though three-quarters of the squad was already cast in stone, never one to be second-guessed, Warren Gatland still managed to surprise the anticipating pundits and public by opting for just two hookers and selecting five front-line locks as well as having extra lock or back-row cover in the form of James King." |
And second row Alun Wyn Jones could also miss the match against Uruguay because of a knee injury sustained in Saturday's match against Ireland, a game in which he was captain.
"Alun Wyn should only be out for a couple of weeks but you never know with medial [ligament] stuff," said Gatland.
Full-back and wing Liam Williams has also been named in the squad while he continues his recovery from surgery on an injured foot.
Gatland admitted Williams needed further monitoring as the tournament approached.
Along with Anscombe, props Rob Evans and Scott Andrews, hooker Kristian Dacey, flanker Ross Moriarty, centre Tyler Morgan and Eli Walker are the others to be cut from the 38-man training squad.
Gatland admitted he had been faced with some "tough decisions" but said: "It's hard but you have to accept that's the nature of sport."
He had already trimmed his initial squad once this summer, discarding British and Irish Lions players Richard Hibbard, Mike Phillips and James Hook earlier in August.
Wales' 31-man World Cup squad
Props: Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Paul James (Ospreys), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Samson Lee (Scarlets).
Hookers: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets).
Locks: Jake Ball (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Racing 92), Dominic Day (Bath), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys).
Back-rows: Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), James King (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt).
Scrum-halves: Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues).
Fly-halves: Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Matthew Morgan (Bristol), Rhys Priestland (Bath).
Centres: Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Scott Williams (Scarlets).
Wings: Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton Saints).
Full-backs: Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon), Liam Williams (Scarlets).
Wales' World Cup pool games |
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Sunday, 20 Sept, 14:30 BST: Wales v Uruguay, Millennium Stadium |
Saturday, 26 Sept, 20:00 BST: England v Wales, Twickenham Stadium |
Thursday, 1 Oct, 16:45 BST: Wales v Fiji, Millennium Stadium |
Saturday, 10 Oct, 16:45 BST: Wales v Australia, Twickenham Stadium |
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