Wales boss forced into making changes after injuries ravage squad

Wayne Pivac says that Wales will “box on” after seeing a quarter of his original 36-man Guinness Six Nations squad sidelined by injuries or suspension.

Pivac has made five changes for tomorrow’s Murrayfield appointment with Scotland as George North, Hallam Amos, Johnny Williams, Tomos Williams and Dan Lydiate are all out from the line-up that started against Ireland last weekend.

Scarlets flanker Josh Macleod was selected to make his Test debut as Lydiate’s replacement against Scotland, but then ruptured his Achilles tendon in training, while another back-row option – Josh Navidi – is being treated for a neck issue.

Elsewhere, centre Jonathan Davies is continuing his recovery from ankle trouble and wing Josh Adams remains suspended following a breach of Covid-19 protocols.

North had been set for a third successive start at outside centre tomorrow, winning his 100th Wales cap.

On the injuries, Pivac said: “You have just got to box on, you can’t dwell on it.

“All coaches will say that one man’s misfortune creates an opportunity for somebody else. That is certainly the way we are looking at it.

“It’s about getting those boys who are in the team prepared in the best way we can.

“Injuries of any description are not pleasant for the players, and nobody wants them. However, it is part and parcel of the game.

“The most disappointing is probably Josh Macleod, who missed the last camp by getting injured in a club game the day before.

“Then yesterday, to be named in front of his peers and have them celebrate, only to be stretchered off the training field half an hour later is not great for him or any of us.

“We’ve got about 21 players unavailable from the first Six Nations (last year).

“I haven’t gone through the list of injuries to look for patterns, but the medical boys will always do that in due course.”

Pivac summoned Blues trio Halaholo, Lloyd Williams and James Botham – grandson of England cricket great Sir Ian Botham – to his squad as injuries hit, with three times-capped flanker Botham joining Halaholo on the bench.