Wales have maintained injury fears gripping the squad will not damage their chances against England at Twickenham, claiming they will be galvanised by their underdog status.
Even as Warren Gatland was deciding on standby players to dash to London if required, his assistant Shaun Edwards said injuries sustained during the Uruguay match, compounding the withdrawal of key players before the tournament, were not as bad as feared. Of the three props with injury worries – Paul James, Samson Lee and Aaron Jarvis – there appears to be most concern over the latter.
Edwards confirmed Gatland had put one or more players on standby as a precaution, with tournament rules requiring him to call up a replacement at least 48 hours before the match to ensure there is a minimum of four props in the match day squad. The most likely front-row replacements, if required, are Rob Evans and Nicky Smith.
“I’m pretty sure Warren has been on the phone and has got someone ready with his bags packed, ready to dash up here,” Edwards said.
James arrived at the Wales “welcome ceremony” at London’s Guildhall, at which the squad were awarded caps by the Wales Rugby Union vice-patron the Duke of Cambridge, wearing a protective boot.
Edwards said it was just a precaution. “He had a kick on his calf and a slight calf strain. It looked like his ankle or his foot but it’s not, it’s his calf,” he said. “I think it is just a procedure to help stabilise the foot so there’s not much strain on his calf.”
The flanker Dan Lydiate said the squad would be further bound together by the injury setbacks they experienced during the buildup and intensified during their opening match against Uruguay.
“I think that’s been our whole mantra,” said Lydiate, who also had to leave the field towards the end of Sunday’s match but will be fit to face England. “It is part and parcel of the game. We have had more injuries than we would have liked to have had but that’s the way it goes sometimes. We can’t help that. We just have to focus on what we can.”
Edwards is hopeful the full-back Liam Williams, who suffered a dead leg against Uruguay, will be fit. “Liam was pretty sharp in training last week but unfortunately he got a knock during the game so he had to come off. But we’re hoping Liam will be fit for Saturday,” he said.
Gatland will decide his team on Wednesday nighttomorrow evening and make it public on Thursday.
Wales had earlier confirmed Cory Allen, the centre who scored three tries in a man of the match display in their opening 54-9 victory over Uruguay, had left the squad after straining his hamstring. He will be replaced by Tyler Morgan, who became the fourth replacement called up since the Wales squad were announced. He followed Mike Phillips, Eli Walker and Ross Moriarty, the latter coming in for Walker, who strained a hamstring in one of his first training sessions after taking over from Leigh Halfpenny.
Edwards said whichever 15 players take the field at Twickenham, they would be more than capable of beating their hosts. “Since 2008 when we came in as the management team, in competitive matches they have won four and we’ve won four,” he said. “Even in friendlies, they’ve won one and we’ve won one. So it’s five-all and it’s the rubber match on Saturday.”
At the hour-long opening ceremony the Welsh squad performed the traditional song Lawr Ar Lan y Mor, causing their royal patron to say: “I’m just glad you play rugby better than you sing.” Prince William added: “I’ll be watching with my brother so I need a Welsh win more than ever… I’ll be supporting you all the way.”
Edwards concluded: “We’re aware that we’re the underdogs going into the game and we have to bring our competitive edge and spirit going into the game, to be in the contest. We’re the underdogs, no doubt about that.”
