Missing from action... but what is state of play with absent stars?
THERE were a number of familiar faces conspicuous by their absence in the recent Welsh rugby derbies, possibly causing concern among the Welsh selectors.
Liam Williams, Jonathan Davies, Gareth Anscome, Dan Lydiate, Jamie Roberts, Jonah Holmes, Willis Halaholo and Owen Lane were among those who didn’t feature.
Will they be involved for the new season’s mooted start early next month? Will they be available to Wayne Pivac for the autumn Tests?
JONATHAN DAVIES
He has been off limits since returning home from the World Cup with a knee injury, a problem that required surgery.
But the hugely-respected centre is back in training with the Scarlets.
He could make his comeback in the European Challenge Cup quarter-final against Toulon a week on Saturday. Glenn Delaney will doubtless weigh up the 87-cap player’s lack of contact over the past eight months against his world-class quality.
LIAM WILLIAMS
He played for Wales against England in March, but has since developed a foot injury that’s delayed his on-pitch return for the Scarlets.
They have plenty of cover in the back three, but in a perfect world they’d still want to see star signing Williams available.
Will he be ready for Toulon? It’s a race against time.
RHYS PATCHELL
The fly-half played in six matches at the World Cup, two of them as a starter, but didn’t figure at all for the Scarlets in the months after his return because of a shoulder injury.
A proposed comeback against Connacht was jettisoned by the virus-enforced lockdown. Since then Patchell is said to have picked up the odd niggle. It could be a tight one whether he puts himself in the frame for Toulon.
ROB EVANS
The prop had a neck operation over the summer but is back in full training. A European quarter-final against Toulon at Stade Mayol would be a challenge for any player making his first appearance after long-term injury, but Evans is putting himself in contention.
If Wyn Jones starts, it’ll be a choice between Evans and Phil Price for a bench spot.
GARETH ANSCOMBE
It’s still a waiting game for the fly-half who damaged a knee playing for Wales against England 13 months ago.
The last time the Ospreys spoke publicly about him, three weeks ago in a Zoom press conference, they didn’t have a return-to-play date and said they wouldn’t be taking any risks.
CORY ALLEN
Like Anscombe, Allen is involved in a long-haul recovery from a serious knee injury. Barely a fortnight ago, he still hadn’t returned to training.
That’s still believed to be the case, with the Ospreys extra careful in a Covid-19 world about when they reintroduce long-term injured players back.
KEELAN GILES
The talented wing has been another who’s been out for approaching 12 months, in his case with a knee ligament issue.
But he was at the recent game with the Dragons and is back in training. It shouldn’t be too long before he’s back on the pitch.
DAN LYDIATE
The Wales international led the Ospreys for much of 2019-20, with Justin Tipuric away on Test duty, and quite a fist he made of it, too, stepping forward in adversity.
The Ospreys held the 32-year-old back during the recent derbies, with Toby Booth wanting to run the rule over others. He should be ready when rugby resumes.
JAMES KING
The Ospreys have missed their committed and dependable utility forward. He’s been out since last September with a shoulder problem. The good news is he appears pretty much ready to go again, with Toby Booth holding him in reserve this summer.
ELLIS JENKINS
It’s coming up to 22 months since this guy produced arguably the performance of his career, inspiring Wales to victory over South Africa.
Unfortunately, he suffered a serious knee injury in the dying seconds of the same game.
The hope is that he’ll be able to return to training next month.
WILLIS HALAHOLO
He suffered woe last November when a knee injury dashed his chances of making his Wales debut after Wayne Pivac had named him in his squad to prepare for the game with Barbarians.
He’s back in training, so it should follow that the quality centre from Cardiff Blues will be back on the field pretty soon.
OWEN LANE
A hamstring problem ruled Lane out of the first four rounds of the Six Nations even before the 2020 tournament began.
The powerful wing didn’t take part in the derbies because of a tightening of muscles in the lower leg area. But the signs are he’ll be fine to resume for Cardiff Blues.
JONAH HOLMES
A new signing for the Dragons, but not involved in their first two games after rugby in Wales restarted. The thinking? Well, no dramas.
The suggestion is Dean Ryan wanted to have a look at other players and give them experience. Holmes should be ready to put his shoulder to the wheel for the challenges ahead.
OLLIE GRIFFITHS
If anyone’s overdue a change of fortune it’s the Dragons back rower.
His latest malady involves a troublesome hamstring which saw him sidelined for August. He’s not expected back until October at the earliest.
JAMIE ROBERTS
He’s fit and well after his recent health issues. With his power, presence and experience, he should prove some addition to the Dragons ranks.
They’ll need him, too, for the Euro test against Bristol.