FOUR-MIDABLE!
HISTORIC AUTUMN CLEAN SWEEP ONLY MARRED BY SERIOUS JENKINS INJURY
WALES will head into World Cup year on the back of an autumn clean sweep. Yesterday’s 20-11 victory over South Africa at Principality Stadium followed up wins over Scotland, Australia and Tonga to extend the winning run of Warren Gatland’s men to nine matches.
But the euphoria of a fourth successive win over the Springboks was tempered by a serious knee injury sustained by man of the match Ellis Jenkins.
The Cardiff Blues flanker had stepped into the starting line-up as a replacement for injured bindside Dan Lydiate and then took over at No.8 early in the game following Ross Moriarty’s departure with a head knock.
His magnificent display was key to Wales’ victory but Jenkins went down awkwardly during the game’s final passage and was left in agony with a suspected anterior cruciate liagament rupture.
If the injury is confirmed by a scan tomorrow then Jenkins could be facing a long period out of the game with the World Cup in Japan looming on the horizon.
“He’s got a scan booked in for Monday,” said Gatland.
“It looks like an ACL, I think, which is not brilliant. He’s obviously very disappointed.
“I thought his performance was outstanding.
“When anyone gets injured it’s the hardest thing to take.
“You know it’s a big year for a lot of players and they work so hard.”
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