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Two stars are certain to start for Wales RWC as Gatland's troubles get worse

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Two stars are certain to start for Wales RWC as Gatland's troubles get worse

Before Wales' Rugby World Cup 2023 campaign gets underway in September, Warren Gatland will have a lot on his mind. Wales aren't in as good a situation as they have been in previous years with the France Rugby World Cup little over three months away. Rugby supporters can book France Rugby World Cup Tickets on our website at exclusively discounted prices.

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Warren Gatland had a team in place in 2011, 2015, and 2019 that had accumulated a lot of experience, and the players had a nearly telepathic knowledge of one another and the game strategy. This time is a little different because Gatland was reinstated as a head trainer after Wayne Pivac was fired.

He has needed to bear the consequences of his predecessor's poor selection practices for the previous three years. We look at the players who, barring an injury, are guaranteed to start Wales' Rugby World Cup 2023 opening versus Fiji on September 10 in Bordeaux.

Back-three

There is a lot of talent in the back three, but one might argue that no one is guaranteed a spot. Leigh Halfpenny, whose technical prowess and frequent goal-kicking have been a tremendous benefit to Wales throughout the years, has always been a strong favourite of Gatland. However, at 34, he isn't certain of a spot in his 33-man RWC squad.

Liam Williams is Wales' greatest full-back when he is healthy and performing at his peak, but there have always been questions about his judgement under pressure, and numerous trainers believe he loses the ball too frequently. Though by no means a lock, he is the most likely full-back starter.

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Welsh wing Josh Adams is another player who has done a great job representing the red shirt since earning his first test appearance in 2018, although he performed poorly throughout the Six Nations 2023. Rio Dyer and Alex Cuthbert are both expected to be competing for a spot in the final Rugby World Cup squad.

The similarly razor-sharp Gloucester wing, Louis Rees-Zammit, is not guaranteed to start because he went in and out of the team during the Six Nations.

Conclusion: Josh Adams, Louis Rees-Zammit, and Liam Williams will certainly form the back three, however, are they assured of their roles? No.

Centres

With the France Rugby World Cup approaching, Gatland will undoubtedly be worried about the midfield. Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies were an accomplished rugby duo for Wales in 2011 and 2015 who had a telepathic connection with one another and had played a lot of Test rugby.

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A similar thing happened in 2019 when Davies teamed up with his former Scarlets teammate Hadleigh Parkes. Gatland has been given a break in this sense since Wayne Pivac, Warren's predecessor, never completely agreed upon a first-choice centre combination.

Gatland must make some difficult decisions now that Joe Hawkins is disqualified due to the 25-cap restriction. Although he hasn't been at his strongest since suffering his ACL in 2021, George North is still a strong contender for sporting the number 13 shirt against Fiji because of his experience.

However, the young Mason Grady should not be disregarded either. We could just as easily draw names from a hat to determine who starts at the inside centre. Except for his inability to stay fit, strong Scarlet’s midfielder Johnny Williams checks all the boxes.

But veteran Saracens player Nick Tompkins is as trustworthy as they come. Wales' form centre is Ospreys star Keiran Williams, but could his lack of international experience work against him?

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Conclusion: It's more likely to buy the earn lottery ticket that comes out on top than to foresee who will start in midfield for Wales versus Fiji.

Wales Vs Fiji Rugby World Cup

In 2023, Wales and Fiji will face off in a rugby match at the France Rugby World Cup. The date is set for September 10, 2023. The game will start at 8:00 at Bordeaux's Matmut Atlantique on Sunday.

Overview

Despite Wales being the more recognised squad, the flying Fijians play for both excitement and victory! Given that this will be both teams' debut match at the France Rugby World Cup 2023, everything is possible in this group C match. To become Rugby World Cup 2023 eye witness you can buy Wales Vs Fiji Tickets from our online platform.

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Half-backs

The depth at 10 for Wales is respectable, although no starter is a lock. The favourite is likely the seasoned Dan Biggar, who wore the captain's hat during the final days of the Pivac period, but even the Toulon player was benched throughout the Six Nations, with Owen Williams beginning the matches versus England and Italy, respectively.

But Gareth Anscombe's return from injury will be greatly appreciated by Gatland. Anscombe was Gatland's top choice for playmaker going into the 2019 Rugby World Cup, but he was forced to miss nearly two years of action after breaking his lower leg during a warm-up match versus England.

Although it wouldn't come as a surprise if Gatland preferred Anscombe at position 10, he is not a lock to start due to the inclusion of Biggar and Williams. The smart money is on Gatland switching between Tomos Williams and Rhys Webb according to the opposition when it comes to who starts at scrum-half.

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Conclusion: At half-back, there are no surefire starts either.

Front-row

Gatland is very likely to travel to France with Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, and Rhys Carre after the shocking exclusion of British & Irish Lions Test prop Wyn Jones from the extended training squad. Each of the three looseheads boasts various capabilities, so even though they are all excellent operators, there isn't a clear favourite to win this game.

Given that he served as captain during the Six Nations, one might assume that the seasoned Ken Owens would be almost a lock to be chosen, but the enormous Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake's return to fitness makes things more difficult. You can buy your Rugby World Cup Final Tickets.

Lake is a youthful player, but his ball-carrying has a significant influence. Owens is the more seasoned player, and his passing in at the lineout is more precise. In a move that may please Gatland, Lake also copies the bizarre Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx at the breakdown.

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Tomas Francis has been a tighthead for the bulk of the last eight years because of his strength in set pieces, but recently, his expectations have declined. While Dillon Lewis may not be a top-tier scrummager on the international stage, his set-piece work has grown stronger and he provides far more on the pitch than the Ospreys player.

Additionally, it is highly improbable that Gatland would have included Henry Thomas, a 31-year-old previous England international, in his extended squad if he weren't a serious contender to tour.

Conclusion: There are several players that are a lock for the 23; however, are front-row starters in the first row guaranteed? They don't exist.

Second-row

Providing he is healthy 92-bound lock racing Since Alun Wyn Jones abruptly announced his retirement last week, Will Rowlands has been as close to a lock as it is possible to get as a starter. Rowlands' absence from the Six Nations due to a shoulder injury was greatly felt by Wales.

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The 31-year-old is an explosive ball carrier, an excellent lineout forward, and a brutal competitor in close quarters. Giant Ospreys lock Adam Beard has always been a favourite of Gatland, but with Cory Hill back, Beard is no longer guaranteed to start.

Conclusion: Will Rowlands is almost certainly going to start, but it's not yet clear who is going to accompany him.

Back-row

With Taulupe Faletau listed as the first name on the squad roster, it is pointless to dispute who wears the No. 8 jersey. Even though he is towards the conclusion of his rugby career, the Cardiff star is still among the top three No. 8s in the world, and there is virtually no other choice.

The departures of Josh Navidi and Justin Tipuric, as well as Ross Moriarty's unavailability, add to the back-row's complexity. Even though Wales has lost a lot of experience, Jac Morgan and Tommy Reffell have an opportunity to become elite loose forwards.

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Gatland will undoubtedly begin against Fiji with one of those, although which one is the real question? Of course, a coach might choose to start with both of them in the identical back row, attacking Fiji in the breakdown, where both of them excel. However, would that strike an appropriate balance?

To ensure an increased number of talents in the back row, he could prefer a more natural blindside like Dragons player Aaron Wainwright, a player he has long liked.

Conclusion: Taulupe Faletau will unquestionably start, while the other members of the back row are still up for debate.

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