Injury-hit squad for Warren Gatland’s final game as Wales head coach

There are nine changes to the Wales team that will take on New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup third-place play-off on Friday as Warren Gatland patches his squad together for his last game in charge.

Tomas Francis is ruled out with the shoulder injury picked up against South Africa last weekend so Dillon Lewis starts at tighthead and Wyn Jones drops to the bench to cover that side of the scrum, with Nicky Smith getting the start at loosehead.

Adam Beard packs down with Alun Wyn Jones at second row, with Jake Ball dropping to the bench, while a hamstring injury for Aaron Wainwright sees Justin Tipuric switch across to the blindside and James Davies start on the openside.

Tomos Williams and Rhys Patchell switch places with Gareth Davies and Dan Biggar at half-back, while Owen Watkin and Hadleigh Parkes do the same at inside centre.

Then an all-Cardiff Blues back three sees Owen Lane and Hallam Amos join Josh Adams as George North (hamstring) and Leigh Halfpenny (concussion) are ruled out of action.

Rhys Carre, Elliot Dee and Aaron Shingler retain their places on the bench, with Ryan Elias, Bradley Davies and Aled Davies the only fit members of the squad not included in the matchday 23.

Wales: Hallam Amos, Owen Lane, Jon Davies, Owen Watkin, Josh Adams, Rhys Patchell, Tomos Williams; Nicky Smith, Ken Owens, Dillon Lewis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones (c), Justin Tipuric, James Davies, Ross Moriarty

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rhys Carre, Wyn Jones, Jake Ball, Aaron Shingler, Gareth Davies, Dan Biggar, Hadleigh Parkes