Injury woes for Wales in Cardiff

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs prop Tomas Francis won his second international cap for Wales, who now face an agonising wait to see if key stars Rhys Webb and Leigh Halfpenny will be fit for the upcoming Rugby World Cup.

The duo were both stretchered off in Saturday’s 23-19 warm-up win over Italy at the Millennium Stadium. Scrum-half Webb suffered ankle damage at a first-half breakdown, whilst key goal kicker Halfpenny damaged his right knee with just ten minutes of the contest remaining.

It’s an untimely blow for Welsh coach Warren Gatland, who saw Halfpenny do much of the damage for his side with five penalties on the day. Dan Biggar added another, whilst Northampton Saints winger George North claimed the home side’s only try.

In reply, Leonardo Sarto and Lorenzo Palazzani scored Italy’s tries with Tomasso Allan kicking two penalties, alongside a drop-goal from Carlo Canna.

Post-match, a worried Gatland said: "If the injuries are bad we might have to bring in players, but we won't know until next week.

"You have to feel for them if they are ruled out. It's a massive blow for them and disappointing for us."