Warren Gatland has named his 31-man Wales squad for the Rugby World Cup and has taken a couple of risks with his selection
Prop Samson Lee has been included despite not playing since rupturing his Achilles tendon in March, while Liam Williams is also included despite not yet being fully recovered from a broken foot.
Gatland has also opted to carry an extra body in the second row following Alun Wyn Jones’ knock against Ireland at the weekend, meaning he has followed Australia boss Michael Cheika’s lead and named just two hookers – Scott Baldwin and Ken Owens – to the panel, although he conceded that decision was influenced by his ability to call in a third hooker at short notice if required given the tournament’s location in the UK.
Gatland’s attitude to injuries will make for an interesting comparison to Joe Schmidt’s selection, with the Irish coach sweating the fitness of props Cian Healy and Marty Moore prior to making his final calls.
With Mike Phillips, James Hook and Richard Hibbard all already having been culled from the party at an earlier date, there are few big names left on the sidelines at this stage, with fly-half Matthew Morgan, centre Cory Allen, prop Tomas Francis and lock Dominic Day filling the final spots in the squad.
Here is the 2015 Wales Rugby World Cup squad #iamwales pic.twitter.com/R0GVoN3wYq
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) August 31, 2015
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, captain).
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).
