Warren Gatland confident to have Wales’ full squad for quarter-final encounter against Ireland
Wales’ national Rugby Union team head coach, Warren Gatland, has expressed his confidence that he will have his full strength squad for their upcoming quarter-final encounter against their European rivals, Ireland. The Wales and Ireland clash will kick start
the 2011 Rugby World Cup’s (RWC) quarter-final stages on Saturday October 8, at Westpac Stadium, Wellington.
During a press conference on Monday, October 3, Gatland seemed assured that several of his injured first choice players will be available for selection for the weekend game.
The injured trio of fullback James Hook, winger Shane Williams and back row forwards player Dan Lydiate are expected to return to full training on Wednesday, October 5. Hook sustained a shoulder injury, Williams is carrying a thigh strain, while flanker
Lydiate sustained an ankle injury earlier in the tournament. The trio has missed Wales' last two matches against Namibia and Fiji.
Ireland is better ranked when compared to Wales in the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) current world rankings. In addition to his, Ireland, following their upset victory over the 2011 Tri Nations Champions Wallabies in their pool C encounter, will enter
the match as favourites.
However, Wales have performed well enough to shrug off any thoughts that they will be easily beaten. Wales had a close 2011 RWC encounter against the defending champions, Springboks. Later they followed it up with their impressive victories over Samoa, Namibia
and Fiji.
Wales injured flanker Dan Lydiate admitted that the fact that they had tough pre-World Cup matches, which was followed by RWC pool encounters, has helped them to raise their game. He said, “We came off some good results pre-World Cup and we were so gutted
to lose against South Africa, but we got the result we wanted against Samoa.”
Lydiate further added, “We have been under the radar at this World Cup. We are going really well and the boys are in a good place. There is a real competitive edge in training. We've had it since pre-season because no-one wants to give up their place and
go home.”
Warren Gatland is expected to announce his match-day 22 squad on Thursday, October 6.
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