Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
TOKYO (AP) — Warren Gatland's last selection as Wales coach has been impacted by injury, with Leigh Halfpenny, George North, Aaron Wainwright and Tomas Francis all out of the bronze-medal match against New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup.
Alun Wyn Jones will again start as captain for Friday's match in Tokyo, but Gatland has made nine changes to the team that started the 19-16 loss to South Africa in the semifinals on Sunday.
With just a five-day turnaround, forwards Jake Ball and Aaron Shingler and backs Gareth Davies, Dan Biggar and Hadleigh Parkes were handed a rest and drop to the bench.
Francis (shoulder), North and Wainwright (hamstrings), and Halfpenny (concussion) were all ruled out.
Gatland is leaving after 12 years in charge of the Welsh team and returning to his native New Zealand to take over at the Hamilton-based Chiefs in Super Rugby.
___
Wales team: Hallam Amos, Owen Lane, Jonathan Davies, Owen Watkin, Josh Adams, Rhys Patchell, Tomos Williams; Ross Moriarty, James Davies, Justin Tipuric, Alun Wyn Jines, Adam Beard, Dillon Lewis, Ken Owens, Nicky Smith. Reserves: Elliot Dee, Rhys Carre, Wyn Jones, Jake Ball, Aaron Shingler, Gareth Davies, Dan Biggar, Hadleigh Parkes.
___
More AP Rugby World Cup: https://www.apnews.com/RugbyWorldCup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
