Gatland refuses to panic as injuries hit Wales

Warren Gatland has reacted in philosophical fashion to Wales’ World Cup injury curse, commenting: “You cannot dwell on it – I can’t do anything about it.”
on the charge: Tongas Telusa Veainu gets away from Namibias Russel  van Wyk, left, during their Rugby World Cup match at Sandy Park, Exeter. Tonga won 35-21 to go second in Pool C behind New Zealand.on the charge: Tongas Telusa Veainu gets away from Namibias Russel  van Wyk, left, during their Rugby World Cup match at Sandy Park, Exeter. Tonga won 35-21 to go second in Pool C behind New Zealand.
on the charge: Tongas Telusa Veainu gets away from Namibias Russel van Wyk, left, during their Rugby World Cup match at Sandy Park, Exeter. Tonga won 35-21 to go second in Pool C behind New Zealand.

The Wales head coach has made three injury-enforced changes for tomorrow’s crucial World Cup Pool A clash against Fiji in Cardiff.

Bristol full-back Matthew Morgan replaces Liam Williams, who is recovering from concussion, while centre Tyler Morgan replaces knee injury victim Scott Williams and wing Alex Cuthbert takes over from Hallam Amos, who is sidelined from the rest of the tournament with a shoulder problem.

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It is otherwise the same team that beat England at Twickenham four days ago, with James Hook, who was called into the squad as a replacement on Monday, named among the substitutes.

Gatland has already lost almost a sixth of his original World Cup squad, with Scott Williams and Amos joining fellow casualties Leigh Halfpenny, Rhys Webb and Cory Allen.

But victory over Fiji would put Wales within touching distance of securing a quarter-final place from arguably the toughest group in World Cup history, given that it also includes Australia.

“I was talking to (Wales’ national medical manager) Prav (Mathema) yesterday, and he said it is probably the worst run of injuries he’s been involved with as a team,” Gatland said.

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“You cannot dwell on it – I can’t do anything about it. You just move on and go forward.

“I don’t dwell on it. I can’t change it. You are disappointed for the players, but you move forward to prepare for the next match.

“We’ve still got guys who are battered and bruised this morning, and we’ve got a game in two days.

“I don’t know whether four- or five-day turnarounds in World Cups are too short. We are not complaining, as we’ve known about that for a long time and prepared for it.

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“When you are involved all the time, you don’t see the changes, but the only gauge I have as a coach is my involvement with the Lions in 2009 and 2013.

“In that four years, seeing the difference in physicality: South Africa is one of the most physical countries to go and play and then, from South Africa to Australia, the step up in physicality and intensity increased massively.

“It’s something we all need to be aware of because it’s a pretty brutal game at the moment. It’s important we consider and look after the welfare of our players as well.”

Michael Cheika insists Australia are still underdogs for Saturday’s make-or-break World Cup encounter with England despite the beleaguered hosts’ damaging defeat to Wales.

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Under-fire England boss Stuart Lancaster’s entire tenure is on the line at Twickenham on Saturday night, where defeat could well dump the hosts out of the tournament.

Failure to reach the quarter-finals would ink England’s place into the history books for all the wrong reasons, as the worst-performing hosts of a World Cup.

England lost out 28-25 to Wales last weekend despite twice leading by 10 points, and must now beat Australia to keep their tournament hopes alive.

“You’d have to think we’re still underdogs, playing in their backyard,” said Wallabies head coach Cheika, speaking after Wycliff Palu and Will Skelton were ruled out of the tournament through injury.

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“I was talking to some of the lads the other day – when the thunder starts at Twickenham, you’ve got to be ready for it.

“They’ve been very successful at that ground, so it’s just about being ready to be yourself and play our way, and play the best we can and let the cards fall as they may.

“Every team’s got the ability to bounce back, that’s the joy of rugby.

“You play one week then get the chance to go out the next,” he said.

“So I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.

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“We’re more than aware of that, because we’ve been in similar positions, losing one week and needing to win the next.

“I’m sure they’ll believe strongly they’ll beat us, and I’m sure that’s all that counts.”

Flanker Palu’s Wallabies career looks to be over after 57 caps owing to a tournament-ending hamstring injury, while lock Skelton needs surgery to repair a torn pectoral.

Australia have replaced Palu with James Hanson, seizing on the opportunity to add a third specialist hooker after receiving criticism for only naming two in their original 31-man squad.

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Sam Carter is a direct replacement for Skelton, the Wallabies losing the tournament’s second-heaviest player.

Scotland have added back-row forward Blair Cowan to their World Cup squad as an injury replacement, the Scottish Rugby Union have announced.

The London Irish forward has been called up after Scotland lost lock Grant Gilchrist to injury on Monday.