Wales vs South Africa, Rugby World Cup 2019: Liam Williams absence a ‘big loss’ but Warren Gatland insists Welsh not any weaker

Liams, who has won 62 caps and started all Wales’ World Cup games except one, has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament after picking up an ankle injury

Warren Gatland has admitted that Liam Williams’ absence for Wales’ World Cup semi-final against South Africa is “undoubtedly a big loss”, but insisted the side was not any weaker in bringing in Leigh Halfpenny to fill the full-back position.

Liams, who has won 62 caps and started all Wales’ World Cup games except one, has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament after picking up an ankle injury in an “accidental collision” during training this week.

“His prognosis will be established in the forthcoming days,” the Welsh Rugby Union said in a statement on Friday morning. “No replacement has been called up at this stage.”

Halfpenny, Wales’ third highest record points scorer, replaces Williams at full-back for the Yokohama showdown on Sunday.

“He (Williams) is undoubtedly a big loss from an attacking perspective, and what he has achieved in the game in the last year or so,” Wales head coach Gatland said on Friday.

“But bringing in the experience of someone like Leigh Halfpenny gives us a different element.

“He is defensively probably the best full-back in the world in terms of his aerial game and coverage defensively.

“We had a long debate about whether we started Leigh in the first place and potentially move Liam to the wing.

“There was a long discussion about that, so Leigh was probably unlucky he was not in the team in the first place.

“We are disappointed for a world-class player like Liam, but we are happy bringing in someone with the experience of Leigh.

“It is a change, but we don’t think that we are weakening the side in any way with the changes we have made.”

The experienced Halfpenny has made one start in the tournament – against final pool stage opponents Uruguay – and came on as a replacement against Georgia.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Davies is back returns to action after initial concerns over his fitness, bringing with him 79 caps’ worth of experience to the midfield.

The 31-year-old missed the quarter-final victory over France because of a knee problem suffered in the Pool D victory over Fiji, but the Scarlets man returns to replace Owen Watkin, partnering Hadleigh Parkes in the centre.

Gatland added: “He (Davies) has come through training this week.

Leigh Halfpenny starts at full-back for Wales on Sunday (PA)

“He was very close last week and he made a decision last week to rule himself out for the betterment of the team.

“Hopefully we can get through the rain today with the training and it won’t affect us too much.

“We will have a shorter session this afternoon, and we are excited where we are at the moment.”

Elsewhere, scrum-half Gareth Davies will win his 50th cap, lining up alongside Dan Biggar at half-back.

Gatland retains the same front-five who have served him well at the tournament, with skipper Alun Wyn Jones making his 142nd Test appearance for Wales.

That puts him level with Italy captain Sergio Parisse on international rugby’s all-time appearance chart, just six Tests behind New Zealand World Cup-winning skipper Richie McCaw.