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Wales fullback Williams out of World Cup, Halfpenny comes in for South Africa semi

SHOWS:

TOKYO, JAPAN (OCTOBER 25, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WALES HEAD COACH, WARREN GATLAND, SAYING:

"He (fullback Liam Williams) is undoubtedly a big loss from an attacking perspective and what he has achieved in the game the last year or so, but bringing in the experience of someone like Leigh Halfpenny, I think gives us a different element. He is probably defensively the best fullback in the world in terms of his aerial game, his coverage defensively and to be honest we had a long discussion and a long debate about whether we started Leigh in the first place."

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WALES HEAD COACH, WARREN GATLAND, SAYING:

"Leigh was probably fairly unlucky he wasn't in the team to start with. We are happy. Obviously disappointed for Liam, world class player, but to bring in the experience of someone like Leigh Halfpenny and even then Ross Moriarty coming into the side as well, it is a change but we don't think we are weakened in any way with the changes that have been made."

STORY: Wales fullback Liam Williams has been ruled out of the remainder of the Rugby World Cup after sustaining an ankle injury at training with Leigh Halfpenny replacing him in the side for Sunday's (October 27) semi-final against South Africa.

Centre Jonathan Davies has also been named for the match in Yokohama on Sunday after he was a late withdrawal from the team that beat France 20-19 in the quarter-final.

Williams is the second withdrawal for the Six Nations champions this week, after loose forward Josh Navidi injured his hamstring in the quarter-final, with winger Owen Lane called up as a replacement.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland on Friday (October 25) said it was a blow to lose Williams,, who has won 62 caps and started all of Wales's World Cup games except one, but that in Halfpenny, his replacement might be the best defensive fullback in the world.

With both team's game built around defence and a clever kicking game, Gatland doesn't expect the match, likely to be played in heavy rain, to be the prettiest encounter of the tournament.

Wales have never before reached the final of the Rugby World Cup, whilst South Africa have won the tournament twice.