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Wales are set to call a back into their World Cup squad as a replacement for hamstring injury victim Josh Navidi.<\/p>\nWales are set to call a back into their World Cup squad as a replacement for hamstring injury victim Josh Navidi.<\/p>\n
Cardiff Blues wing Owen Lane and Ospreys center Scott Williams appear to head the list of candidates.<\/p>\n
Back-row forward Navidi will miss the remainder of the tournament due to an injury that forced him off during a 20-19 quarter-final victory over France on Sunday.<\/p>\n
In terms of a replacement for Navidi, Wales head coach Warren Gatland said: \u201cNo, it won\u2019t be a back-rower. Probably someone in the back-line.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t made that decision yet. We\u2019ve just got to wait until we get that approval from World Rugby and then look to bring someone in.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got six back-rowers, and we\u2019ve got five fit at the moment. We have been a little bit short in numbers in the backs, so it probably will be a back who comes out as a replacement.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a grade two hamstring, so it\u2019s at least a couple of weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s disappointing for him (Navidi). Hopefully, we will keep him out here. Obviously, he loses his accreditation, but since he\u2019s gone so far in the tournament it will be nice for him to stay out for the next couple of weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has been very influential and important for us in the last year. It\u2019s disappointing to have a player ruled out, but in saying that, these games are so physical and to have only one player ruled out at this stage is a real positive for us.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a meeting tonight to decide who that potential replacement will be. There are a number of options.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gatland, meanwhile, said that center Jonathan Davies \u2013 who missed the France game due to a knee injury \u2013 will \u201chopefully be up and running\u201d for training on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Wales have arrived in Tokyo with the dust still settling on a last-eight encounter that France led until the 74th minute, before Ross Moriarty\u2019s try and a Dan Biggar conversion edged them home and booked a semi-final against South Africa.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are fairly familiar with South Africa and have had a fair bit of success against them,\u201d Gatland added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had some close encounters in recent years and had some good success. We\u2019ve got to park last night and say we\u2019ve played our get out of jail card and get excited about this weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about getting us mentally and tactically right this week and being smart in the way we train.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will be no lack of motivation or adrenaline for the match, so it\u2019s pretty important we manage the players well this week and tactically get ourselves right for South Africa.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey pose different threats to some other teams. There was a period a few years ago where they were trying to emulate the All Blacks or Australia; trying to be a bit too expansive in the way they played.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve gone back to their strengths, and their strengths are definitely that physicality up-front with driving lineouts and a strong scrum and ball-carrying.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked if he felt the current tournament was the best chance Wales have had in a World Cup, Gatland said: \u201cPossibly, yeah, I think so.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou get these opportunities once in a lifetime, potentially, and you\u2019ve got to grab them with both hands and make the most of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important that we prepare well this week and let the occasion take care of itself. It\u2019s about having no regrets, and that\u2019s the message of this week.\u201d<\/p>\n