Here comes the cavalry... the players set to ease Gatland’s worries over injuries
WARREN Gatland will be breathing a sigh of relief Wales are facing Scotland in 51 days time and not this weekend.
For the Wales coach is having to tackle an injury crisis that is expected to deprive him of a number of star names for the February 3 Six Nations opener in Cardiff.
Lions captain and flanker Sam Warburton (knee and neck) and centre Jonathan Davies (foot), who was British and Irish player of the series in New Zealand, have already been ruled out.
And it’s highly likely Taulupe Faletau and Jake Ball will miss the entire championship. Star No.8 Faletau suffered his third knee injury in a year when he went down during Bath’s Champions Cup thriller with Toulon last weekend while Ball dislocated a shoulder during Wales’ loss to New Zealand.
The pair’s recovery time has been put at three to four months which means – and it seems a long shot – they have a slight chance of being fit for the end of tournament fixtures with France and Italy.
There’s also concern over the fitness of tight-head prop Samson Lee, who failed to figure during the autumn campaign because of a recurring Achilles problem. Wing or full-back Liam Williams (abdominal), outsidehalf Dan Biggar (head), scrum-half Rhys Webb (knee), centre Scott Williams (ribs), prop Leon Brown (concussion) and flanker Justin Tipuric (thigh) haven’t played since being injured last month.
The back condition of Ross Moriarty, who started during last year’s Six Nations due to Faletau’s then knee injury, is a major worry with another No.8 option, James King, having damaged a shoulder last weekend and Dan Baker (knee) being out for the season. A broken jaw put flanker Ollie Griffiths out of autumn contention and an ankle injury is likely to stop him being selected in Gatland’s squad for the Six Nations.
Wing or centre George North hopes to return from the hamstring strain which prevented his participation in the autumn Tests in the next couple of weeks. Wales record cap-holder Gethin Jenkins has hardly played this year because of knee and calf problems while flanker Ellis Jenkins is on course to return next month from the serious hamstring injury he suffered during a pre-season fixture.
So it’s a case of nos, if and buts for Gatland as he prepares for what will be an anxious Christmas with Wales’ home-based stars set to go head-tohead in a series of high-octane derbies in the Guinness PRO14.
With Wales’ injury crisis having deepened, this is the team Gatland could pick against autumn sensations Scotland at the Principality Stadium on February 3... 15 Leigh Halfpenny His worth as an attacking threat has been questioned by many but he’s solid at full-back and a top-notch goal-kicker who Gatland has stuck with through thick and thin since the 2011 World Cup 14 Liam Williams Was released from the Wales squad after suffering an abdominal injury and hasn’t resurfaced. Almost sure to start for Wales somewhere in the back three against Scotland, if fit. 13 George North The big winger has started in the centre previously, during the 2014 thriller with Australia three years ago, and Gatland recently suggested he could be an option in midfield if fit. 12 Hadleigh Parkes The Kiwi pounced for a brace of tries during the win over South Africa and his composure, all-round game and knack of doing the basics right make him favourite to be at inside-centre. 11 Hallam Amos Overshadowed Steff Evans during the autumn Tests to build a strong case to start somewhere in the back-three against Scotland. If North and Liam Williams are fit, selection from 11-15 will be intriguing. 10 Dan Biggar Hasn’t played since being forced off by a head injury against South Africa but is firm favourite to continue to be Wales’ primary play-maker although Owen Williams could be a dark horse to challenge. 9 Rhys Webb Was led away after reeling from a head knock against New Zealand but it’s a knee injury which has troubled him. If fit, has to start in the Six Nations because he’s a top scrum-half and organiser. 1 Rob Evans Gethin Jenkins’ health issues opened the door for him in last season’s European campaign and he hasn’t looked back with his silky footballing skills again coming through this autumn. 2 Ken Owens Elliot Dee is a player on the rise and the festive derbies will be important for him, Kristian Dacey and Scott Baldwin to provide an alternative case to incumbent Owens. 3 Tomas Francis Samson Lee’s troublesome Achilles is proving a real worry as it stands and, if he fails to prove his fitness before the Six Nations, Exeter Chiefs prop Francis is sure to start against Scotland, if he stays fit. 4 Cory Hill With Jake Ball being injured, the only way Hill could miss out on a February 3 start would be if veteran Luke Charteris was recalled or Aaron Shingler was shifted to lock. 5 Alun Wyn Jones No debate over this one! Jones will skipper Wales if fit. 6 Aaron Shingler Dan Lydiate has hit form but, with Taulupe Faletau’s injury and Ross Moriarty a serious concern, Shingler’s extra height, line-out expertise, skill and athleticism should keep him in the team. 7 Justin Tipuric All Blacks great Sean Fitzpatrick calls him “phenomenal” and, with Sam Warburton injured and issues at No.8, Tipuric will almost certainly be back in the pack if he can put aside thigh problems. 8 Josh Navidi The injuries to Faletau, Moriarty, James King and Dan Baker could result in the versatile Navidi, who was a revelation in his preferred position of flanker during the autumn, packing down at No.8.