GATLAND BLAMED FOR HALFPENNY LOSS
LEIGH HALFPENNY will miss the World Cup and spend the next six months on the sidelines after Wales’ worst fears were confi rmed last night – and former wing Shane Williams says coach Warren Gatland is to blame.
A scan on the knee Halfpenny injured against Italy on Saturday showed the Lions full- back tore his WAYNE ROONEY has vowed to always make himself available for England as he looks to set a goalscoring record that will stand for generations.
The England captain drew level with Sir Bobby Charlton on 49 goals on Saturday and will seek to fi nally break new ground against Switzerland at Wembley tonight.
Rooney said he would fi nd it diffi cult to turn his back on his country and that he would have to be pushed into retirement by the national coach of the day. “I feel I’ve still got quite a lot of games anterior cruciate ligament in the second half of the 23- 19 warm- up victory at the Millennium Stadium.
The 26- year- old has now been ruled out of Wales’ World Cup campaign, which starts against Uruguay on September 20. Scrum- half Rhys Webb is also left to play for England,” said the Manchester United striker, who would become only the 44th international player to reach a half- century of goals for their respective country.
“If I was sitting here saying ‘ I just want to get 50 goals’ then I’d be lying.
“I’d be disappointed if I ended my England career on 50 goals. I want to kick on and try to score as many as I can. I’ve still got plenty of games to do that. Hopefully by the time I expected to miss the tournament after suffering ankle ligament damage in the same match.
But former Wales wing Williams says Halfpenny should not have been on the pitch in the fi rst place, claiming he did not appear fi t enough to play and Gatland should have given other members of the squad a chance to gain some experience.
“Wales is in mourning. It’s a massive blow and couldn’t have come at a worse time. It’s just horrendous for Wales,” said Williams, speaking at an ITV launch of their World Cup coverage. “I’m looking at Leigh Halfpenny in the