By Joe Mansfield.
WALES won their opening Six Nations game against Ireland in what was an attritional encounter, but it came at a cost.
The physical contest saw Wales make upwards of 200 tackles and suffered a smattering of injuries as a consequence of the collisions.
Wayne Pivac’s squad acquired six injuries during the game and will be forced into making changes for their game against Scotland on Saturday.
Definite absentees for Scotland
Dan Lydiate has been removed from the Welsh squad after he suffered an anterior cruciate knee ligament (ACL) injury in the 10th minute.
The blindside flanker will play no further part in the 2021 Six Nations and faces a long road to recovery from what looks like a nasty injury.
Tomos Williams was removed from the field on the brink of half time with a hamstring injury. The scrum half has undergone scans and the results have shown it is not a simple injury. The picture surrounding Williams’ injury will become clearer in the coming weeks.
Johnny Williams and Hallam Amos required head injury assessments following blows the head during the game. The pair will miss the clash against Scotland and must pass concussion assessments before they return to the fold.
Possible absentees
Nick Tompkins appeared to pick up a shoulder injury after he replaced Johnny Williams. The coaching staff are monitoring his condition and will make a call later in the week on his involvement against Scotland.
George North was accidentally struck in the eye by a flailing Irish hand and had to play the remainder of the game with impaired vision. Like Tompkins, North’s condition will be monitored closely throughout the week.
Replacements
Defence coach Gethin Jenkins confirmed that Liam Williams is likely to come in as a straight swap for Hallam Amos. The versatile back has become available having served his three-match ban for a red card he picked up playing for the Scarlets.
Josh Adams is not up for selection as a disciplinary action for breaking Coronavirus protocol prior to the Ireland game.
Jenkins was coy when speaking about potential options to call-up to the squad and refused to mention any names that might come in. Call-ups and replacements will be confirmed following the return of Covid-19 tests.
