WALES coach Warren Gatland faces making more changes to his World Cup squad after an opening victory over Uruguay which came at a heavy cost.
Wales completed a comfortable 54-9 victory over the South American minnows at the Millennium Stadium but the casualty list grew again only six days before their massive Pool A showdown with England.
Having lost star men Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Webb to serious injuries on the eve of the World Cup, there was more pain for Wales with first-half hat-trick hero Cory Allen almost certainly ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a “significant” hamstring injury.
Another change in the front-row also looks likely with Paul James and Samson Lee reporting tight calves and Aaron Jarvis having damaged a rib, while Wales were left sweating on the fitness of full-back Liam Williams, who was forced off with a thigh injury.
On the plus side, skipper Sam Warburton will be fine to play at Twickenham after being withdrawn with a groin problem and Dan Lydiate passed an assessment following a knock to the head late in the game.
“Cory’s got a significant tear in his hamstring and at this stage, it looks like he’ll definitely need to be replaced,” Gatland said. “But he will be scanned on Monday.
“Liam’s got a knock on the thigh and I’ve spoken to the medics to get an update, but they said it will take 24 hours to make an assessment.
“We may have to make a tough decision in terms of the props with five.
“We only had three that could take the field and we have to have four. We may have to make a difficult call and replace one of the props.”
Gatland (pictured) defended criticism of Wales’ preparation with so many injuries beginning to undermine their World Cup challenge.
The New Zealander said the injuries were simply a case of bad luck.
