Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Wales v South Africa: Dan Biggar and Liam Williams withdrawn from side against Springboks

Written by 
Published in Rugby
Thursday, 17 August 2023 11:24

Dan Biggar and Liam Williams have been withdrawn from the Wales side to face South Africa in Saturday's final World Cup warm-up game.

Sam Costelow replaces fly-half Biggar who has a back spasm, while full-back Williams has a tight hamstring with Cai Evans handed his first cap.

Tom Rogers has been named as a replacement.

Head coach Warren Gatland will name his 33-man World Cup squad on Monday, 21 August.

Wales stressed the injuries were purely precautionary and Biggar and Williams were not World Cup doubts.

"They are not serious at all," said Gatland. "If this was a World Cup semi-final, Dan Biggar would have been fine for the weekend.

"We are just taking a precautionary measure. There is no need for us to take a risk with him.

"Both of them [Williams and Biggar], if we pushed them hard, could play on Saturday, but the decision was made [that] there is no point taking a risk at this stage.

"It's dealing with things that are going to be thrown at you. It's using a bit of adversity as a positive."

Hooker Dewi Lake is in contention to be fit for the World Cup opener against Fiji in Bordeaux on 10 September with back row Taine Plumtree, hooker Ryan Elias and lock Dafydd Jenkins also targeting that game.

Number eight Taulupe Faletau (calf) and fly-half Gareth Anscombe (thumb) are the only two players from the 48-man squad who have not been able to play in any of the three warm-up games.

Lake was forced off the field after captaining the side in the 19-17 defeat against England at Twickenham last weekend.

Dragons hooker Bradley Roberts has been called in to train with Wales to provide cover amid the injuries to Lake and Eias, who suffered a hamstring injury in the 20-9 opening World Cup warm-up win against England in Cardiff in early August.

Roberts' fellow Dragons hooker Elliot Dee will start against South Africa with Sam Parry on the replacements bench.

Gatland admitted it was a balancing act about how many players he could select with fitness issues.

"We have in the past gone to World Cups carrying players with niggles that are going to take two or three weeks to come right," said Gatland.

"That may be the case but it's just depending on what sort of risk do you potentially take.

"There are maybe one or two we can take with niggles, that's probably the number you talk about.

"The important thing is when you can get back to training. If you look at the draw, you've got to go fully loaded for the first game, then looking at Portugal with a six-day turnaround there'll be changes.

"Then you've got eight days to Australia where you'll be a strong side again and then a 13-day turnaround where hopefully everyone gets an opportunity to recover from any bangs and bruises before you play Georgia.

"There's less pressure in this tournament than there has been in the past where you've had four-day turnarounds when that's had quite a significant impact on the squad.

"That's a discussion we'll have in terms of risk and how many we can carry."

Gatland insisted Dragons flanker Taine Basham was fit to play against South Africa after recovering from a high tackle by England captain Owen Farrell.

Basham, 23, failed his head injury assessment (HIA) on the day but Gatland had written in his newspaper column the process had been flawed because there was a television on in the same room.

The WRU say Basham is fit to feature on the bench because no concussion was confirmed following completion of all three stages of World Rugby's HIA protocol.

"He's had a full week with us from Monday, he passed his HIA 2 and 3, so no problem at all," said Gatland.

"He felt fine after the game. He felt fine when he was on the field. It was an independent doctor who had a look and said they wanted him to have a HIA."

An independent judicial committee rescinded Farrell's dismissal against Wales, clearing him to play a key role for England at the upcoming World Cup.

World Rugby have now appealed against the decision with another hearing set to be arranged.

Gatland would not be drawn on the Farrell controversy after initially criticising the England fly-half's tackle technique in his newspaper column.

"I was forthright about the fact he's got to get his technique a little bit better," said Gatland.

"It's something we talk with players about: if you don't bend at the hips then you're putting yourself in a situation that you can potentially get yellow carded or red carded.

"I'd like to think all coaches talk about tackle technique and getting those things right. And if you don't get those things right, then you can potentially put yourselves in a position where you can be carded.

"Everyone wants clarity and certainty about all aspects of the game."

Wales team to face South Africa: C Evans; Cuthbert, Grady, J Williams, Dyer; Costelow, Hardy; Domachowski, Dee, Assiratti, Carter, Rowlands, Lydiate, Morgan (capt), Wainwright.

Replacements: Parry, N Smith, H Thomas, Teddy Williams, Basham, Tomos Williams, Llewellyn, Rogers.

Read 70 times

Soccer

Europe's top soccer leagues: What's at stake this weekend?

Europe's top soccer leagues: What's at stake this weekend?

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe 2023-24 season is drawing to a close and the battles for the ma...

Where could Man City slip up to give Arsenal, Liverpool hope in Premier League title race?

Where could Man City slip up to give Arsenal, Liverpool hope in Premier League title race?

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsManchester City's silky 4-0 win at Brighton & Hove Albion sent a ch...

PL chief: Games in U.S. not in our 'current plans'

PL chief: Games in U.S. not in our 'current plans'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPremier League chief executive Richard Masters said the league curr...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Ailing Bucks see Lillard aggravate Achilles injury

Ailing Bucks see Lillard aggravate Achilles injury

EmailPrintINDIANAPOLIS -- Injuries are beginning to pile up for the Milwaukee Bucks, presenting them...

Haliburton's GW floater ices Bucks in dramatic OT

Haliburton's GW floater ices Bucks in dramatic OT

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsINDIANAPOLIS -- Tyrese Haliburton struggled to find his shooting to...

Baseball

Brewers lose LHP Miley to Tommy John surgery

Brewers lose LHP Miley to Tommy John surgery

EmailPrintMILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Brewers left-handed pitcher Wade Miley said Friday that he needs To...

D-backs ace Gallen exits in 6th with tight hammy

D-backs ace Gallen exits in 6th with tight hammy

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSEATTLE -- Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen left his start again...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated