Liam Williams joined Wales’ World Cup casualty list after he was ruled out of the rest of the tournament on Sunday with a foot injury.
The 24-year-old Scarlets wing limped off with a foot problem during the 2nd half of Wales’ 15 / 6 Pool A defeat by Australia’s Wallabies at Twickenham on Saturday.
“Disappointing news out of camp this morning. Liam Williams ruled out of Rugby World Cup with foot injury,” said a statement on the Welsh Rugby Union’s Twitter feed on Sunday.
He is the 6th member of Wales’ original Rugby World Cup squad to be ruled out because of injury following Leigh Halfpenny, Rhys Webb, Scott Williams, Hallam Amos and Cory Allen.
Williams had to overcome a foot injury just to gain a place in coach Warren Gatland’s original 31-man squad.
Also capable of playing at fullback, Williams was then concussed during Wales’ dramatic 28 / 25 win over tournament hosts England at Twickenham a fortnight ago and missed the subsequent victory against Fiji.
Liam Williams’ injury means Gatland is set to be forced into yet another rejig of his team heading into Wales’ Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against South Africa next weekend.
George North, pushed into centre against Australia, is likely to return to his more familiar wing berth against the 2-time world champion Springboks.
That would leave Gatland needing to find a new midfield partner for Jamie Roberts, with utility back James Hook and Tyler Morgan 2 possible options.
Yet despite all their injury problems, Wales – already qualified for the last 8 before Saturday’s match – came 2nd in the ‘Pool of Death’ behind Australia.
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