Gatland delighted with stunning Wales win

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Gatland delighted with stunning Wales win
Wales players celebrate their win (AP)

Tokyo - These games are so physical, to have only lost one player at this stage is a real positive for us, he said

By AFP

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Published: Mon 21 Oct 2019, 11:12 PM

Last updated: Tue 22 Oct 2019, 1:17 AM

Wales have played their "get out of jail card", coach Warren Gatland said on Monday of his team's nail-biting victory over France that set up a World Cup semifinal against South Africa this weekend.
The Welsh edged France 20-19 in their quarterfinal in Oita, but will face the Springboks without No 8 Josh Navidi after Gatland confirmed he had been ruled out of the rest of the competition with a grade two hamstring injury.
Gatland said they would bring in a replacement on Tuesday, but said the management "haven't made a decision yet" on who that might be.
The Kiwi coach did say, however, it would not be a like-for-like backrow forward as he has five of the original six chosen still fit.
With Jonathan Davies nursing a knee injury that saw him ruled out of the France game an hour before kick-off and Hadleigh Parkes playing with a shoulder contusion and a bone fracture in his hand, the replacement would likely be another centre, with the names of Scott Williams and Owen Lane high on the list.
"It's very disappointing for him," Gatland said of Navidi.
"He's been very influential, very important for us for the last year.
"These games are so physical, to have only lost one player at this stage is a real positive for us."
Turning to the victory over France, Gatland said: "We're a bit disappointed about yesterday's performance, we didn't think we played as well as we could. France played exceptionally well, but in reflection I think we showed some great character out there and got the win."
 


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