Gareth Anscombe forced to withdraw from Georgia match

Wales have confirmed that fly-half Gareth Anscombe has been withdrawn from their contest with Georgia today in Nantes with a “groin aggravation”.

Replacement fly-half Sam Costelow has been promoted to the starting XV, while Dan Biggar has moved onto the bench. Biggar was initially deemed to be ruled out of this match after leaving the pitch in the opening minutes against Australia two weeks ago with a chest injury.

The 32-year-old Anscombe could be seen with his head in his hands on the pitch shortly before his withdrawal was announced. He has had his fair share of World Cup heartbreak after missing the 2019 tournament with an ACL injury suffered in the warm-ups. His hopes of participating this year were also thrown into jeopardy when he broke his thumb in July in training.

Wales head into the match knowing a solitary point would ensure that they top Pool C to set up an encounter with one of Argentina or Japan in the World Cup quarter-finals next week in Marseille.

Anscombe replaced Biggar after only 12 minutes against the Wallabies and went on to level the Toulon fly-half’s record for the most points scored by a Wales player in a World Cup match, 23, as Warren Gatland’s side won 40-6.