Hallam Amos named in Wales team to face Uruguay

Full-back Williams, meanwhile, has not played since the end of last season due to a foot problem, and his Scarlets colleague Lee has been sidelined since suffering an Achilles injury during Wales’ RBS 6 Nations victory over Ireland six months ago.

Uruguay will just be looking to keep the scoreline respectable on their third World Cup appearance and this will just be a case of how many Wales win by.

Rhys Priestland will start at fly-half with Gareth Davies at scrum-half, while James King is selected at No.8.

Lee, too, is pivotal to Wales’ hopes of progressing from a punishing pool that also features England, Australia and Fiji, having established a huge reputation in a short space of time for his powerful scrummaging.

Warren Gatland’s men are expected to rack up the points at the Millennium Stadium before heading to Twickenham to face hosts England next week, with that upcoming test reflected in the team selection for Sunday.

From the initial heartache of the Halfpenny-Webb blow, morale has been steadily boosted in the Wales camp, thanks in part to the return of Mike Phillips, who tweeted to Lloyd Williams when he was initially picked before him, “You’ve retired a legend”.

“The squad are extremely excited to kick their Rugby World Cup campaign off on Sunday”, said Gatland.

World Cup referees’ chiefs have already underlined the firm stance that will be taken against offenders, including punishment for any players guilty of diving or similar histrionics.

“It is great to have Liam and Samson back in the starting line-up”.

Alex Cuthbert and Hallam Amos complete the back three with Cory Allen and Scott Williams in midfield. “We always saw qualifying to play at this World Cup as an opportunity but not our final objective, which is to grow as a team and play better and better”.

On the eve of Wales’ opening game against Uruguay in Cardiff on Sunday, Gatland said: “There are a number of teams who need a bit of luck to get through the pool stages”.

Replacements: 16-Ken Owens, 17-Aaron Jarvis, 18-Tomas Francis, 19-Dominic Day, 20-Dan Lydiate, 21-Ross Moriarty, 22-Lloyd Williams, 23-Matthew Morgan.