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Wales lose Williams and Cuthbert for All Blacks clash

Wales full-back Liam Williams

Liam Williams and Alex Cuthbert will miss Wales’ November international with New Zealand after being released from Warren Gatland’s squad due to injuries.

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Williams was replaced as Wales laboured to victory over Georgia in Cardiff last weekend, the full-back hobbling off just before the hour.

Gatland was not optimistic about his chances of facing the All Blacks when speaking to reporters on Monday, and 24 hours later his worst fears have been confirmed.

The Welsh Rugby Union confirmed that Williams had been released back to Saracens with an abdominal injury, while also confirming winger Cuthbert would miss out too.

Cuthbert played the entire 80 minutes of the 13-6 win over Georgia but will not feature against the world champions due to a calf problem.

Replacements for the duo have yet to be confirmed.

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SK 1 hour ago
The times are changing, and some Six Nations teams may be left behind

If you are building the same amount of rucks but kicking more is that a bad thing? Kicks are more constestable than ever, fans want to see a contest, is that a bad thing? kicks create broken field situations where counter attacks from be launched from or from which turnover ball can be exploited, attacks are more direct and swift rather than multiphase in nature, is that a bad thing? What is clear now is that a hybrid approach is needed to win matches. You can still build phases but you need to play in the right areas so you have to kick well. You also have to be prepared to play from turnover ball and transition quickly from the kick contest to attack or set your defence quickly if the aerial contest is lost. Rugby seems healthy to me. The rules at ruck time means the team in possession is favoured and its more possible than ever to play a multiphase game. At the same time kicking, set piece, kick chase and receipt seems to be more important than ever. Teams can win in so many ways with so many strategies. If anything rugby resembles footballs 4-4-2 era. Now football is all about 1 striker formations with gegenpress and transition play vs possession heavy teams, fewer shots, less direct play and crossing. Its boring and it plods along with moves starting from deep, passing goalkeepers and centre backs and less wing play. If we keep tinkering with the laws rugby will become a game with more defined styles and less variety, less ways to win effectively and less varied body types and skill sets.

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