Injury crisis leaves Wales fearing the worst

WALES are staring at one of their worst autumn series as they prepare for the Springboks after another defeat by New Zealand. They have only lost three or more Tests in November and December twice since these games were established in the rugby calendar in 2010. A third loss in this series next Saturday to a distinctly average South Africa would cap a poor month of matches at the Principality Stadium. One thing Wales are never blessed with is depth, and their resources will be tested to the extreme. With Jonathan Davies, Sam Warburton, George North, Liam Williams and Ross Moriarty out injured, Rhys Webb struggling with concussion and Jake Ball a shoulder injury, that is half the

team gone. Then come the political absentees, with Owen Williams, Tomas Francis, Rhys Priestland, Taulupe Faletau and Jamie Roberts playing in England, meaning they do not have to be released for the fourth autumn Test, which Wales play outside the international window. Williams and Francis are unavailable, and wranglings are ongoing about the other three, meaning Wales could be without 12 big names when South Africa come to Cardiff. Warren Gatland will be glad

then that Hadleigh Parkes, the 30-year-old New Zealand-born Scarlets back, is available after completing three years of residency on the day of the Springbok match. That game is important — not least because Wales’s Gatland-era record against the southern hemisphere giants is so dreadful. In 37 matches since 2008, Wales have lost 34, including Saturday’s 30th straight defeat by the All Blacks. Wings Rieko Ioane and Waisake Naholo oozed class, taking two tries each. Sam Cane — making 21 tackles in what his head coach, Steve Hansen, described as an ‘outstanding’ defensive effort — was also brilliant. Wales have been making strides with their dual-playmaker system and Gatland was keen to stress the positives. ‘If we can play as we did in the first half and be a bit more clinical against a side that probably doesn’t have the capabilities the All Blacks do, that should give us a chance to score more points,’ he said. But Aaron Shingler summed up the problem best. ‘We have been reasonably good to watch, pretty entertaining, but obviously you need the results to be a happy camp,’ he said.

WALES: Halfpenny; Amos, S Williams (Roberts 58min), O Williams, S Evans; Biggar (Priestland 64), Webb (Davies 9); R Evans (W Jones 58), Owens (Dacey 76), Francis; Ball (Hill 19), A Jones; Shingler (Tipuric 71), Faletau, Navidi. Sub not used: Brown. NEW ZEALAND: McKenzie; Naholo, Crotty (Liernert-Brown 19), Williams, R Ioane; B Barrett (Sopoaga 71), A Smith (Perenara 64); Hames (Crockett 60), Taylor (Harris 71), Laulala (Tu’ungafasi 41); Tuipulotu (S Barrett 46), S Whitelock; Squire, L Whitelock (Todd 46), Cane. Sin bin: S Whitelock 68.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England).