NICE, France (AP) — Wales made 13 changes to their starters to face Portugal in the Rugby World Cup, where only winger Louis Rees Zammit and No. 8 Taulupe Faletau was retained from the breathless victory over Fiji.
Four Welsh will make their World Cup debuts against the Portuguese in Nice on Saturday in centers Mason Grady and Johnny Williams, lock Christ Tshiunza and hooker Dewi Lake, the captain. Taine Basham could also get a first World Cup appearance off the bench.
Leigh Halfpenny is at fullback and is set to play his 101st test and third Rugby World Cup appearance.
Gareth Anscombe is for Dan Biggar at No. 10 and joins scrumhalf Tomos Williams, who is set for his 50th test appearance. Tommy Reffell and Dan Lydiate complete the back row alongside Faletau.
Club-mates Tshiunza and Dafydd Jenkins are the locks, with loose forward-lock utility Tshiunza also starting his first game in the second row for Wales.
Wales rested most of its frontliners and expected an easier game than the 32-26 victory over the Fijians, who lost before the Welsh held on to win in the dying seconds of the game of the tournament so far.
Almost all of the frontliners will be rested afterwards, although Wales have hooker Ryan Elias, lock Adam Beard, scrumhalf Gareth Davies and wing Josh Adams on the bench.
“We did a full game debrief last week and identified the areas we needed to improve on,” coach Warren Gatland said. as we prepared.”
Portugal is set for its first appearance at the Rugby World Cup. The Portuguese has only played in one previous World Cup, also in France in 2007.
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Wales: Leigh Halfpenny, Louis Rees Zammit, Mason Grady, Johnny Williams, Rio Dyer, Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Taulupe Faletau, Tommy Reffell, Dan Lydiate, Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza, Dillon Lewis, Dewi Lake (captain), Nicky Smith. Reserves: Ryan Elias, Corey Domachowski, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Taine Basham, Gareth Davies, Sam Costelow, Josh Adams.
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AP Rugby World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby