Wales injury crisis exposed by recall of unfit Eli Walker

“Walker replaces Liam Williams, who was released on Sunday”.

Eli Walker has been called up to Wales’ World Cup squad as a replacement for the injured Liam Williams but attack coach Rob Howley admits the winger won’t be available for Saturday’s quarter-final with South Africa.

“Eli is not available for selection this weekend”, said Howley. “Tyler came through that game really well and, if it wasn’t for his injury, might have started against Australia”.

“We have come through tough games against tier-one nations and that gives us a good platform and prepares us for what will come on Saturday against South Africa”.

“It’s knockout football, a quarter-final to look forward to”. Australia was our fourth game and we pushed them all the way.

The 25-year-old took Jamie Roberts’ pass, raced down the touchline before producing a left-foot kick infield for Davies to collect with a brilliant pick-up before touching down under the posts.

“You are aware of the injuries which we have had”.

That’s normally when we get our scalp. When they sit down to do their analysis of the match this week, they’ll look back and be able to say to each other, ‘look guys, this is what we’re made of.

While Wales lost 16 times on the bounce to South Africa between 2000 and 2014, recent history suggests they can go about their business with a quiet degree of confidence this week.

Wales triumphed 12-6 over South Africa in Cardiff previous year and ran the Springboks close in a 31-30 defeat when the sides met in Nelspruit earlier in 2014.

“They have been refocused since [losing their opener to] Japan”. We have enough players in the squad to cover at the moment.

“Alun-Wyn Jones is an experienced campaigner and said he felt rusty in that England game as did one or two other forwards”, said McBryde.