A routine World Cup win for Wales may have come at a cost, after several players limped off to provide further injury concerns.
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Prop Paul James and fullback Liam Williams were first-half injury withdrawals for the Welsh, who lost Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Webb in the build-up to the tournament.
Job done. Yet, with the massive clash against England up next it felt as if the figure that really mattered to Wales after their opening World Cup game in the Pool of Death was the number of players on the injury list.
France wing Yoann Huget is out of the Rugby World Cup with a knee injury, coach Philippe Saint-Andre said on Sunday.
A third Berchesi penalty reduced the deficit, but Allen promptly struck again from another lineout, with Scott Williams breaking through and slipping the scoring pass to his co-centre.
“We may have to make a tough decision in terms of the props because we are only carrying five props and at the moment we have only got three that could take the field”.
Center Cory Allen sustained a “significant” hamstring injury.
With points and try differentials also taken into account when separating teams tied at the end of the pool stage, Wales would be wise to go hard from kickoff and keep the foot on the gas for the full 80 minutes.
“I thought we were rusty and England looked a bit rusty as well (against Fiji)”, he added.
“Unfortunately we’ve picked up a few knocks but that’s rugby, that’s professional sport”, Gatland said, “and there’s no doubt we’ll pick a few more”.
Lydiate passed concussion protocols, while Lee and James struggled with tight calves and Jarvis has a rib cartilage injury. It’ll be a mental and physical battle and we have to prepare for that.
Lemoine said he was “proud” of his players’ performance. “These are the games we get up for”. “Next week’s going to be about up here and getting ready mentally for the confrontation”.
“I don’t think we look at the preparation”.
“Justin Tipuric had a strong game for us and we had a good impact off the bench”. Although Uruguay had only scraps of possession and conceded a rash of penalties, they dealt in the main with Wales’ straight-line running watched by the largest crowd any of them had appeared in front of, and were neither overawed nor overpowered.
Chris Baumann scored a 74th minute try to pull United States of America to within nine but a missed conversion meant Samoa had some breathing room with six minutes remaining.
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It might not have been an ideal start but the score kicked Wales into action and they had another shortly after when Allen collected a deft Priestland chip before sliding between the posts.
