Welsh coach Warren Gatland has three new injury concerns
Welsh coach Warren Gatland has fresh injury concerns over three first team players for their Test match against Fiji on Friday 19 November.
Shane Williams, Gethin Jenkins and Dan Lydiate are all doubtful for the match after picking up injuries.
The British and Irish Lions winger, Williams, was injured in Wales’ 25-29 defeat to South Africa on Saturday 13 November, while prop Jenkins and flanker Lydiate were forced to pull out prior to the game against the Springboks.
Of the two injuries, Jenkins’ appears to be the more serious, and his calf injury may rule him out for the remaining matches of the Autumn Internationals. On a more positive note, Lydiate’s sprained ankle doesn’t appear to be as serious and he could feature
against Fiji this week.
If the flanker fails to prove his fitness, he will be expected to return for the Test match against the All Blacks on 27 November.
Speaking to the press, Gatland said, "Dan could be a week or so away from fitness, but with Gethin, calf injuries are two or three weeks, maybe a bit longer."
Williams will also be a concern to the Welsh manager, who is uncertain as to how long the mercurial winger’s shoulder injury will rule him out for.
"It looks as though Shane's shoulder has popped out and then popped back in again, so we are not sure how long he may need to recover," said Gatland.
Paul James replaced Jenkins for the defeat against the Springboks and the prop is likely to continue in the position for the remaining two matches.
Andy Powell started for Lydiate, but Gatland is expected to recall the injured flanker if he can prove his fitness ahead of the Fiji Test.
The Welsh manager may have rested Williams for this week’s match, even if he had not picked up an injury. Chris Czekaj is expected to start the Fiji Test, but Gatland will hope that Williams will be fit to return for the New Zealand Test.
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