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Warren Gatland explains Wales back-row choice for Uruguay

Rugby World Cup: Wales v Uruguay Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Date: 20 September Kick-off: 14:30 BST Coverage: Live on BBC Radio 5 live and sports extra, BBC local radio, plus live text commentary on every match on the BBC Sport website. Further coverage: BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio.

Liam Williams and Samson Lee will start for Wales in their opening World Cup match against Uruguay on Sunday.

Williams has recovered from foot surgery in June while fellow Scarlet Lee ruptured an Achilles tendon in the Six Nations - neither has played since.

Sam Warburton will start at blind-side flanker with Justin Tipuric open-side.

Jamie Roberts, Alun Wyn Jones, George North, Taulupe Faletau and Dan Biggar are all rested ahead of the game against England on 26 September.

Rhys Priestland starts at fly-half in Biggar's absence and will be partnered by Gareth Davies at half-back for the game at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

James King is selected at number eight, with Gloucester back-rower Ross Moriarty on the bench, while Hallam Amos is given the chance to impress on the wing.

"Trained incredibly hard"

Warren Gatland will become the first to coach Wales at two World Cups in the 2015 tournament

"It is great to have Liam and Samson back in the starting line-up," said Wales head coach Warren Gatland.

"They have trained incredibly hard and Sunday is a great opportunity for them.

"It's a great opportunity for all the players and it's an exciting time ahead.

"Playing in a World Cup, in your home country, at your home ground is a great honour and I'm sure the players will take that into the game.

"Uruguay will be looking to show what they are capable of and we know we need to be clinical on Sunday."

Injuries limit Wales' choices

Wales have been badly hit by injuries in their back division in the build-up to the tournament.

Scrum-half Rhys Webb and full-back Leigh Halfpenny were ruled out by injuries suffered in Wales' final warm-up win over Italy.

They also lost centre Jonathan Davies in May to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament while wing Eli Walker has also been omitted after being called up to cover Halfpenny's absence.

Veteran Mike Phillips was called in to fill Webb's squad place but is not required in the 22 to face Uruguay, with Lloyd Williams the scrum-half cover on the bench.

Uruguay are scheduled to name their line-up for the first Test between the teams at 13:30 BST on Friday.

Wales team to face Uruguay

Liam Williams (Scarlets); Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons); Rhys Priestland (Bath Rugby), Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Paul James (Ospreys), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Racing 92), Sam Warburton (Captain, Cardiff Blues), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), James King (Ospreys).

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Dominic Day (Bath Rugby), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Matthew Morgan (Bristol Rugby)