Don’t be surprised if Warren Gatland is spotted throwing copious amounts of salt over his left shoulder in the coming days.
Nor should anyone be taken aback if Wales’ rugby coach opts to carry a four-leaf clover around with him or even a horseshoe — anything to break the run of ill luck his squad seem to have encountered after the injuries to Taulupe Faletau and Gareth Anscombe.
There was a screaming inevitability about Anscombe joining Faletau in being ruled out of the World Cup. Watching him limp off the Twickenham pitch on Sunday and later be pictured with crutches, an observer might have reasoned he was on course for bad news, his chances of featuring in Japan appearing to fade each time he came into view.
“Disaster,” was the view of one person this writer spoke with an hour after the Welsh Rugby Union confirmed what everyone had been expecting or fearing or both.
But Wales are not done yet on the medical front.
They are still awaiting an update on Tomos Williams, whose shoulder injury is giving cause for concern.
The youngster could do with a change of fortune after suffering a number of injuries over the past year.
But what happens if the rugby gods choose to dish out more bad news?
We take a look at what Warren Gatland’s options might be in the event of such a scenario unfolding...
Rhodri Williams
The Dragons player had a storming match against the Ospreys after the Six Nations and earned plaudits for his efforts against the Scarlets on Judgement Day and for the Barbarians against England at the end of last season.
Some Dragons watchers felt he had been a shade below his best over the season, but it wasn’t as if he had a great platform to work off. He impressed consistently during his time at Bristol with his ability to run a game and spark attacking play.
From here, Williams appears underrated.
Wales included only three scrum-halves in their 42-man training squad, so Rob Howley is presumably seeing areas in Williams’ game where the former Scarlet could improve. But then maybe all the nines in the set-up have room to get better, notwithstanding Gareth Davies’ spectacular solo score against England.
Lloyd Williams
He has a lot of experience, having played at two previous World Cups, and is renowned for his fitness.
Wales haven’t picked him since their near-mishap against Japan in Cardiff in 2016 when they were made to look ordinary by the visitors, who were blessed with a crispness and flair behind that the hosts were sorely lacking.
But when he engaged top gear with Cardiff Blues last season — he particularly impressed against the Scarlets over Christmas — Williams demonstrated he still had plenty to offer.
He kicks off both feet, has a fast pass, is quick and skilful. And, like his dad Brynmor, he is a competitor to his core.
Williams was asked to the Wales World Cup briefing attended by some 65 players last autumn.
That would have offered him hope that he might still be in the national-squad picture.
But no call has come since.
It says much for him that he has kept working hard at his game, despite having no joy with Wales.
Rhys Webb
The assumption is there would need to be at least one more scrum-half injury for Rhys Webb to be helicoptered into the Wales set-up. Maybe for some there would need to be a dozen more such bumps to justify the former Osprey being brought into the picture.
After all, the WRU have made a stand over the Toulon-based ‘prince over the water’, as some of his admirers would see Webb, and probably wouldn’t want it compromised by letting him feature at the World Cup at the first sign of trouble.
But is there a serious argument that Wales would not be stronger for having the 30-year-old in their set-up?
Not only does the Lions Test man boast experience, he also plays the game as he sees it and has an armour-plated self-belief.
It doesn't seem to matter.
The 60-cap policy on exiled players is in place and so it looks as if Webb will have to watch the events in Japan from afar.
That said, Gatland has made his views clear on more than one occasion, saying: "I feel so sorry for Rhys. I would love the opportunity to be able to pick him.
“The rules say that I can’t, but if there are a couple of injuries I would like to think — say we lost two of our three nines that we have at the moment — then there would maybe some common sense.
“I don’t think anyone wants to see a team hampered by the ability to be able to pick the best player."
Kieran Hardy
It probably won’t happen because he is young, raw and unproven at Test level, but he looked terrific at times for the Scarlets last season.
It’s just a thought.
