Wales woes worsen as winger ruled out of rest of Autumn Nations Series

Mason Grady has been released from the Wales squad after it was confirmed he requires surgery on the ankle injury he sustained in Sunday’s damaging defeat to Fiji.

Grady played a crucial role in Blair Murray’s opening try at the Principality Stadium but was forced off the pitch in the 17th minute and now looks set for a spell on the sidelines.

The Cardiff back will play no further part in the Autumn Nations Series after the Welsh Rugby Union announced that Grady will need to go under the knife. No replacement has been called up.

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“Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby) has been released from the Wales senior men’s squad,” a WRU statement read.

“This is following an ankle injury sustained in Sunday’s match against Fiji which requires surgery.”

Wales coach Warren Gatland, who had selected a six-two split on the replacements’ bench, admitted Grady’s withdrawal caused confusion on Sunday as Sam Costelow went on in his place instead of Ellis Bevan.

“We were talking and said we’re going to put Ellis on. And then Sam’s ran on the field,” Gatland said after the 24-19 loss.

“I think he might have assumed he was the person going on. We had already had those discussions with Ellis that if we do lose a winger, you’re going to need to cover us there.”

Defeat was Wales’ 10th in succession and equalled their previous worst run, set under Steve Hansen between 2002 and 2003.

They now need to beat either Australia or world champions South Africa in Cardiff over the next two weekends to avoid going a full calendar year without winning for the first time since 1937.

“We have to find a way to get over the line, and it has got to come. I thought we were pretty positive in camp over the last couple of weeks,” Gareth Anscombe said.

“I still think our best performance is good enough to beat Australia. I think we fully believe that.

“I think if we can grow another 10-20 per cent in some little areas then we have got a real chance.”