Wales warm-up matches to be without Taulupe Faletau and Gareth Anscombe for Rugby World Cup preparations

Wales Stars Faletau and Anscombe Ruled Out of World Cup Warm-Ups Due to Injuries

Last updated: 38 minutes ago

Welsh rugby fans will be disappointed to learn that number eight Taulupe Faletau and fly-half Gareth Anscombe will not be able to participate in the upcoming World Cup warm-up matches. Both players are, however, still in contention for selection for the tournament.

Faletau has been nursing a calf injury while Anscombe is dealing with a thumb problem. Unfortunately, their injuries caused them to miss Wales’ impressive 20-9 victory over England in Cardiff.

As a result of their injuries, both players will also be unavailable for the return fixture against England at Twickenham on Saturday and the home match against South Africa on August 19th.

The good news is that centre Johnny Williams and wing Alex Cuthbert are back in contention for the final warm-up game against South Africa after missing the first two matches due to various reasons. Their return could provide an additional boost to Wales’ squad depth.

In regards to Faletau’s availability, Head Coach Warren Gatland said, “Taulupe won’t be available next week.” However, he expressed confidence in his recovery progress stating that “he trained pretty well today” without any issues related to his calf. Therefore, it seems likely that Faletau will still have a chance at making it into the final squad.

Gatland also mentioned Johnny Williams’ potential fitness for next week’s game and stated that Alex Cuthbert should be fit enough for selection as well. Unfortunately, Anscombe’s injury will keep him out of the next match due to a thumb knock sustained during training.

Looking ahead to the World Cup, Wales will begin their campaign against Fiji in Bordeaux on September 10th. They will then face Portugal, Australia, and Georgia in their remaining group games.

With only six players from the 48-man squad set to miss the first two matches, Gatland acknowledged that these individuals may have some catching up to do in terms of selection for the final 33-man squad. He explained that those who haven’t had much playing time or training will need to deliver an exceptional performance in order to secure their spot.

Gatland emphasized his satisfaction with the depth within the team but also acknowledged the challenge faced by players returning from injuries: “It is always a challenge for players who have had injuries and haven’t taken a full part.”

In contrast to England’s approach of already announcing their World Cup squad, Gatland has opted for waiting until after all three warm-up matches before making his final selection. This decision allows players one last chance to prove themselves on the field.

Gatland expressed his expectation of seeing a group of passionate and determined Welsh players taking on England this Saturday at Twickenham. He highlighted how being selected can bring both relief and emotional challenges for athletes:

“It is almost the relief of being selected […] whether you are quite there emotionally.”

Gatland remains confident that Wales has assembled a strong team capable of performing at its best during this crucial phase leading up to Rugby World Cup 2019.