Sick list...Who is among Wales’ walking wounded?
NORTHAMPTON wing George North will undergo a scan on a knee injury today amid fears he could miss Wales’ autumn series campaign.
It is another worrying setback for Wales coach Warren Gatland as he prepares to select his squad to take on Australia, Georgia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Here we look at the current state of health of Gatland’s potential lineup... Back three The Saints have revealed that North is to have a scan today to determine the full extent of the knee injury he suffered in the first half of their 57-13 Champions Cup hammering at the hands of Saracens on Sunday.
It certainly didn’t look good for the juggernaut wing, who must be a major doubt, not just for the opener against Australia on November 11, but for the entire series.
At least Gatland doesn’t have to search far for a replacement.
Scarlets’ flyer Steff Evans has been in sizzling form out west and was pushing hard for a starting spot against the Wallabies before North was crocked.
Evans, Liam Williams — who produced two classy finishes at Franklin’s Gardens — and Leigh Halfpenny now look the likely firstchoice trio.
As for the squad, Hallam Amos is another obvious candidate, with North’s potential absence opening the door for the likes of Ashton Hewitt, Keelan Giles, Tom James or Alex Cuthbert.
Dan Evans had a fine game for the Ospreys, but he is perennially overlooked. Midfield Ashley Beck’s latest setback means the classy Ospreys centre isn’t expected back from a shoulder problem until December.
The smart money is on an all-Scarlet combo of Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams starting against the Wallabies, with Jamie Roberts and Tyler Morgan as back up.
The versatile Owen Williams has had a slow start to life at Kingsholm, while Owen Watkin could come into the frame if he gets more action for the Ospreys over the coming weeks. Fly-half Gareth Anscombe is struggling to overcome a long-standing groin issue which will rule him out of contention for the four-Test series, while Rhys Priestland missed Bath’s win over Benetton last weekend because of a knee tendon injury.
That leaves the Ospreys duo of Dan Biggar and Sam Davies, as well as Scarlets pivot Rhys Patchell as the contenders for the No. 10 jersey.
Biggar heads the pecking order. Scrum-half Rhys Webb limped off late on in Sunday’s 26-21 defeat to Clermont, although afterwards head coach Steve Tandy insisted it was just a bout of cramp.
Webb had been a doubt for the game because of a calf injury that forced him off at half-time against the Scarlets.
“I think Rhys was just cramping up. He’s been banged up after not playing too much recently so it was probably just fatigue,” said Tandy. “Hopefully it’s not too serious.”
It is unlikely to put Webb’s participation this autumn at risk, although Gareth Davies has been in razor-sharp form for the Scarlet, while Aled Davies recovered well from his early intercept in Toulon.
Tomos and Lloyd Williams are other options for Gatland. Front row Veteran prop Gethin Jenkins hasn’t been seen this season – he had knee surgery in the summer and is currently trying to overcome a calf issue – while Ospreys hooker Scott Baldwin is still recovering from the damaged hand suffered as a result of his meeting with a lion in Bloemfontein.
Loose-head prop Rob Evans missed the Champions Cup trip to Toulon because of a head injury assessment, but should be available for Friday’s rag-doll date with Bath in Llanelli and it would be a big surprise if Gatland didn’t go for an all-Scarlets front row first up with Ken Owens and Samson Lee packing down alongside him. Second row Ospreys youngster Rory Thornton has a shoulder issue, but otherwise, second row isn’t an area of concern with the Wales management able to pick from Alun Wyn Jones, Jake Ball, Luke Charteris, Cory Hill, Seb Davies and Bradley Davies. Back-row Ospreys No. 8 Dan Baker became the latest casualty in the back-row pool, carried off on a stretcher in Sunday’s Liberty clash.
He joins Lions skipper Sam Warburton, Ellis Jenkins, James Davies and Dragons youngster Harrison Keddie on the absentee list, while Ross Moriarty hasn’t played this season because of a back injury which ended his Lions tour prematurely.
The Gloucester flanker has hinted he could be back playing this month, although time is running out for him to prove his fitness ahead of the Australia date. Dan Lydiate produced his best game since his return from a long-term knee injury against Clermont on Sunday, carrying 16 times in an abrasive display which will encourage Gatland, while Aaron Shingler has been one of the form back-rowers in the Guinness PRO14 in the opening six weeks.