Rugby World Cup 2023: Wales v Argentina - Williams and Biggar fit for quarter-final

Liam Williams and Dan Biggar will appear in a third World Cup quarter-final

Wales full-back Liam Williams and fly-half Dan Biggar have been passed fit for the World Cup quarter-final against Argentina in Marseille on Saturday.

Aaron Wainwright switches from flanker to replace Taulupe Faletau at number eight with Tommy Reffell called in at open-side flanker.

Captain Jac Morgan reverts from open-side to blind-side while co-captain Dewi Lake is named as a replacement.

However fly-half Gareth Anscombe misses out with a groin issue.

Centre George North will become the first Welshman to appear in a fourth World Cup quarter-final.

Wales have selected 14 of the starting side that defeated Australia and Fiji in the pool stage, with the exception of the injured Faletau who has been ruled out of the tournament with a broken arm.

Two fit, one missing

Williams picked up a knee injury during the 43-19 victory over Georgia and left the Nantes stadium on crutches but has recovered in time.

Anscombe suffered a groin injury during the warm-up to that match and was replaced by Sam Costelow.

Biggar came on to the bench but was an unused replacement having just recovered from a pectoral injury in the record 40-6 victory against Australia.

Anscombe was an early replacement for Biggar in that game and produced a 23-point player-of-the-match performance and could still be available for a potential semi-final.

Head coach Warren Gatland said: "Liam took a heavy blow to his knee but we were always confident he would be ok. He's up and running but we have kept him out of the contact stuff, as we have with Dan.

"Gareth is also up and running. Fingers crossed he will be in contention next week if we go well this weekend."

Replacing Faletau

Wales lost Faletau in the Georgia win though his place in the 33-man squad has been taken by scrum-half Kieran Hardy with head coach Warren Gatland insisting he had enough back-row cover.

Tommy Reffell and Jac Morgan have previously started only one Test together but had six games alongside each other in the Wales Under-20s back row

Gatland has opted against naming a specialist six, such as veteran flanker Dan Lydiate, with Christ Tshiunza covering the back row in the replacements.

"We had a healthy debate about bringing in a more traditional number six who is bigger and Dan Lydiate can count himself very unlucky not to be involved. He's done nothing wrong.

"But the breakdown is going to be very competitive and we felt with the way Tommy played with his turnovers, you just want your best players on the pitch.

• Wales 'comfortable' with favourites tag

• Best yet to come from Argentina - Pichot

• Rees-Zammit bids to top try charts

"In some ways it's tough on Jac to have to move because he's been one of the best sevens in the World Cup with his ball-carrying and even his kicking.

"It's not something we want to replicate too many times in the future but it's horses for courses and we're lucky to have both him and Tommy available."

'Not ready to go home'

Gatland hopes his side can reach a third semi-final in the last four World Cup tournaments.

"You have to enjoy the pressure that comes with a quarter-final," he said.

"We're not surprised that we are here and that we topped the pool and after all the hard work that we've put in, we're not ready to go home yet."

Argentina have made just two changes to the team that edged out Japan 39-27 having also lost a key back-row player - Pablo Matera - last week.

Facundo Isa starts at number eight while Tomas Cubelli replaces Dragons scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou.

"I've known Wales a for a long time, even when I was Australia coach so I know their strong points," said head coach Michael Cheika.

"Defence, the kicking game and attack. If they're ready to attack, their players are very fast and tough for defenders.

"We've looked at consistency which is key if we are going to win a game we know Wales are favourites for."

Wales: L Williams; Rees-Zammit, North, Tompkins, Adams; Biggar, G Davies; G Thomas, Elias, Francis, Rowlands, Beard, Morgan (capt), Reffell, Wainwright.

Replacements: Lake, Domachowski, D Lewis, D Jenkins, Tshiunza, T Williams, Costelow, Dyer.

Argentina: Mallia; Boffelli, Cinti, Chocobares, M Carreras; S Carreras, Cubelli; Gallo, Montoya (capt), Gómez Kodela, Petti, Lavanini, Gonzalez, Kremer, Isa.

Replacements: Creevy, Sclavi, Bello, Alemanno, Bruni, Bazan Velez, Sanchez, Moroni.