Injured Wales forward Navidi out of World Cup

Wales' Josh Navidi is out of the World Cup. Photo: Peter Cziborra/Reuters

Wales' Josh Navidi is out of the World Cup. Photo: Peter Cziborra/Reuters

Published Oct 21, 2019

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TOKYO – Wales backrower Josh Navidi has

been ruled out of the remainder of the Rugby World Cup after

tearing his hamstring during the first half of Sunday's

quarter-final victory over France, coach Warren Gatland said on

Monday. 

Gatland told a news conference that Navidi would be replaced

with a back, rather than another forward, because of concerns

over others in the squad. Chief among those is centre Jonathan

Davies, who was withdrawn from Sunday's team at the last minute. 

"He's got a grade two (hamstring tear) and will be ruled

out," Gatland said of Navidi. "We have a process that we need to

go through with World Rugby.

"Given we brought six backrowers and have five fit at the

moment and have been a little bit short in numbers in the backs,

then it will probably be a back who comes out as a

replacement." 

"It is disappointing for him because he has been so

influential for us over the past 12 months."

Gatland added that Navidi has been an influential player

over the past 12 months but expects both Davies and fellow

midfield back Hadleigh Parkes, who played on Sunday with a

broken hand, to be available for the semi-final. 

— Josh Navidi (@Jnavidi) October 21, 2019

"He (Davies) was touch and go for the weekend. The difficult

decision with Jonathan was going into the game with two

midfielders who weren't 100%," Gatland said.

"Hadleigh still has a broken bone in his hand and was also

carrying a shoulder contusion, so to have one centre who was fit

was pretty important for us."

Gatland also admitted that his side had used up their "get

out of jail free card" in their 20-19 victory over a French team

reduced to 14 men by Sebastien Vahaamahina's red card and will

need to raise their game against the Springboks in Yokohama.

"We're pretty familiar with the way they play. I think they

were trying to be a bit too expansive in the way they played a

few years ago," the New Zealander said.

"They've gone back to their strengths - and their strengths

are definitely that physicality up front, with driving lineouts

and a strong scrum and ball-carrying." 

The list of South Africa's attributes didn't stop there.

"And a good kicking game as well. So you've got to be able

to handle (all) those threats. They've got a couple of pretty

exciting wingers, too," he said.

Yet Gatland, who is stepping down after the tournament to

take charge at his hometown club Waikato Chiefs, remains

confident that Wales have their best chance to win a first World

Cup if they get past South Africa. 

"You get these opportunities once in a lifetime and you've

got to grab them with both hands," he said.

"It's about having no regrets. That's the message of this

week." 

Reuters

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