WALES COACH WARREN Gatland has rewarded the brilliant form of openside Justin Tipuric with a starting role in Sunday’s Pool A clash with Uruguay (Sunday 2.30pm).
Tipuric is given the number seven jersey ahead of captain Sam Warburton who shifts over to blindside in a back row completed by James King.
Alun Wyn Jones is still recovering from the injury picked up in the win over Ireland in Dublin and the injury nightmare for scrum-half Rhys Webb means Scarlets’ Gareth Davies will win his fifth cap.
Centre Jamie Roberts sits out the opening fixture so the midfield consists of Cardiff’s Cory Allen and Scarlet Scott Williams.
Another Scarlet, Liam Williams is a welcome return to fullback after Leigh Halfpenny’s untimely knee injury and Samson Lee also starts having missed out of Wales’ three warm-up fixtures.
Mike Phillips does not feature in the matchday squad as Lloyd Williams and Matthew Morgan are the only back options on Gatland’s bench.
Wales (v Uruguay)
15. Liam Williams
14. Alex Cuthbert
13. Cory Allen
12. Scott Williams
11. Hallam Amos
10. Rhys Priestland
9. Gareth Davies
1. Paul James
2. Scott Baldwin
3. Samson Lee
4. Luke Charteris
5 Jake Ball
6. Sam Warburton (Capt)
7. Justin Tipuric
8. James King.
Replacements:
16. Ken Owens
17. Aaron Jarvis
18. Tomas Francis
19. Dominic Day
20. Dan Lydiate
21. Ross Moriarty
22. Lloyd Williams
23. Matthew Morgan
