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Wales fullback Liam Williams could be sidelined for three months
Wales fullback Liam Williams could face a lengthy lay-off after being injured at the World Cup.
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Wales head coach Warren Gatland says he thinks the Saracens player could be out for three months with an ankle problem.
Williams was hurt during a Wales training session in Tokyo last week, and had to sit out his side’s semi-final loss to South Africa, prompting a recall for Leigh Halfpenny.
Williams has since flown back to England to link up with his Premiership club, Saracens.
“I think he had surgery yesterday,” Gatland said. “I think it will be three months. That surgery takes about that long.
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“If we had made the final, he would still be here with us. In fairness to Saracens, they had agreed that. But if we weren’t, they wanted to get him back for surgery as quickly as possible.”
A three-month absence would sideline Williams from Saracens’ Heineken Champions Cup pool games and a number of Premiership fixtures.
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Wales also kick off their 2020 Six Nations campaign under new head coach Wayne Pivac against Italy in Cardiff on February 1. Williams will be gunning to get back out on the paddock in time to make an impact for the first competition under the new coaching regime.
Departing Wales boss Warren Gatland has cleared up what he meant when he spoke about England last Sunday https://t.co/PASD6D3Ep8
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 30, 2019
For now, however, there’s still one game left under Gatland’s reign.
Gatland revealed plenty at Thursday’s press-conference when quizzed about his time at Wales.
“It has been some experience,” Gatland reflected. I have said on a number of occasions I never thought I would have been in Wales for 12 years. I was lucky enough to have had a couple of sabbaticals with the (British and Irish) Lions and that was good for me mentally.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4H_SchAutY/
“I am very privileged to have worked with a group of coaches and backroom staff that we have been incredibly close over that period and that has made things so much easier in terms of the synergy and being on the same page.
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“The players I have worked with, I have had about three squads over that period, and I have worked with some outstanding individuals and some players I have been very lucky to coach.
“Lastly, I would like to thank the Welsh public. They have been challenging at times but they have made it worthwhile in terms of just how welcoming they have been to me in Wales. They have been so hospitable and it is really like a second home for me in Wales and I am going to miss being there.
Wales have named a much-changed side for their World Cup bronze final match against New Zealand in Tokyo on Friday. #RWC2019 #NZLvWAL https://t.co/7aQSuMLIcj
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 30, 2019
“You have to look forward and be excited about the opportunities – one more game – and start thinking about the next challenge and being involved in Super Rugby.
“This is an end of an era for a lot of people. We have a management meal tomorrow night, which will be our last one together. We want to make sure we enjoy that and hopefully Alan Phillips books a nice restaurant for us.
“For a number of players this will probably be their last World Cup game so there are a lot of people involved, not just myself. Players potentially whether they carry on their international careers, a lot of them realise this could be their last World Cup opportunity.”
Wales conclude their World Cup campaign by tackling New Zealand in the bronze medal match on Friday. They will be searching for their first win over the All Blacks since the in almost 70 years.
– with PressAssociation
Fans haven’t been happy with how World Rugby have dealt with England’s response to New Zealand’s haka on Saturday:
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments