Three Changes For Wales vs Fiji

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has made three changes for Thursday's Pool A clash against Fiji in Cardiff.

Bristol full-back Matthew Morgan replaces Liam Williams (concussion), Tyler Morgan comes into the centres for Scott Williams (knee) and winger Alex Cuthbert takes over from Hallam Amos, whose tournament is over following a shoulder injury sustained against England.

James Hook, called into the squad as an injury replacement on Monday and named on the bench, is the only other change to the team that beat England at Twickenham three days ago. 

Gatland has opted to retain his victorious pack in their entirety, with flanker Dan Lydiate and number eight Taulupe Faletau both set to win their 50th caps for Wales. 

20 year-old Tyler Morgan has found himself the next in line as beneficiary of Wales’ freakishly unlucky injury crisis. The Dragons centre originally missed out on World Cup selection, but was then drafted in as a replacement for Cory Allen (himself called up only due to Jonathan Davies’ enforced absence) who suffered a tournament-ending hamstring injury in Wales’ opening fixture against Uruguay last week.

Victory for Wales on Thursday would put them within touching distance of the last-eight, and would also drastically increase the pressure on England to beat Australia at Twickenham on Saturday. A defeat for England would more or less set in stone an emabrassing pool stage exit for the host nation. 

"It is important we build on the success and momentum from last weekend and take that into Thursday," Gatland said.

"Fiji have performed very well in their opening two games, and they will be coming to Cardiff looking to build on that themselves.

"We have made three changes through injury, but go into this game with a strong side.

"We are looking forward to being back at the Millennium Stadium on Thursday and having the crowd right behind us in an important World Cup fixture."

Apart from beating Fiji, Wales will also hope they can emerge unscathed in terms of injuries, with Australia looming at Twickenham nine days later.

Gatland has so far lost almost a sixth of his original 31-man World Cup squad through injury - a casualty count comfortably higher than any other team - with Amos and Scott Williams following Allen, full-back Leigh Halfpenny and scrum-half Rhys Webb in being sidelined from the tournament.

Paul James, who suffered a calf injury in the Uruguay fixture, is still unavailable to play with Gloucester fly-half Hook, the only change to the Welsh bench from Saturday.