LONDON – Wales have quite literally limped to a 23-19 win over Italy in Cardiff with injuries to scrum half Rhys Webb and fullback Leigh Halfpenny casting doubt over Wales’ RWC campaign.
All in all, despite the win, it was a dour day for Wales who also conceded more tries than they scored with Leonardo Sarto and Lorenzo Palazzani getting over the line for Italy while George North scored Wales’ solitary try.
The match wasn’t one of the most exciting of the World Cup warm-ups as mistakes and penalties turned the game into a stop-start affair dominated by the whistle.
Wales’ main worry heading into the match were injuries as several players in Gatland’s 31-man RWC squad are already carrying injuries into the Rugby World Cup. And despite the dour affair, it looked good for Wales up until the final quarter when both Webb and Halfpenny were struck down and taken off due to injury.
The injuries will be devastatingly worrying for Gatland as Halfpenny especially looked in pain after being struck down with no-one around him. He will go for scans on Monday. Meanwhile, Mike Phillips is expected to get the emergency call-up as replacement scrum half.