Six Nations 2023: Liam Williams replaces Leigh Halfpenny for Wales against Ireland

Leigh Halfpenny past started for Wales against Canada successful November 2021

Liam Williams volition commencement astatine full-back for Wales successful Saturday's Six Nations opener against Ireland successful Cardiff aft wounded ruled retired Leigh Halfpenny.

Cardiff's Williams, who had not been included successful the archetypal matchday squad, volition deterioration the fig 15 jersey.

Wales adjunct manager Jonathan Humphreys insisted Williams was "good to go".

It is the 3rd clip successful caller months that Scarlets' Halfpenny, 34, has been a precocious withdrawal from the Wales team.

He was named by Wayne Pivac to look some New Zealand and Australia past autumn - having made his Test instrumentality against Georgia arsenic a replacement - lone to propulsion retired of some games soon earlier kick-off.

"Unfortunately, Leigh had a backmost spasm this greeting (Thursday) and Liam volition beryllium playing," explained Humphreys.

"It's much disappointing for [Leigh] arsenic a person. He's had a mates of these recently.

"He's an unbelievable nonrecreational and an unbelievable person. He's got to prime himself up again. You consciousness for him that he's got to propulsion retired astatine this precocious signifier again."

More to follow.

Roof is shut.