Rugby World Cup
How well are Wales prepared?
Martyn Thomas
June 11, 2015
Wales finished the Six Nations in style with a huge win over Italy © Getty Images
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Main Issues

Warren Gatland and his coaching staff are certain George North will be fit to face Uruguay on September 20, but the fact remains he has not played since March 27. Moreover, no-one can be sure exactly how the giant winger will recover having been knocked out three times in just four months. Jonathan Davies' injury means that North's fitness is an even more pressing concern as Gatland can ill afford to head into the World Cup with two of his best players.

Squad Strength

Gatland has picked a surprisingly big training squad, but on paper it looks like a good one. As would always be the case with a group this size there are some untested players included, but the likes of Tomas Francis and Ross Moriarty are interesting additions. If there is one area where the squad looks light it is in the centres, where Davies has left a big hole which Cory Allen, Jack Dixon and Tyler Morgan may struggle to fill.

Injury Concerns

Samson Lee has recovered better than expected from the Achilles rupture he suffered against Ireland in the Six Nations and could make his return in the warm-up games. Bar Davies, Gatland otherwise has a full squad to choose from with Allen and Tom James given the chance to prove their fitness following injury-hit campaigns.

What are the locals saying

"You would have to imagine that PRL's decision to release players from all countries for international duty from today has played a part in Wales selecting 10 English-based players in their squad. To have had that many players unavailable for the training camps in Switzerland and Qatar plus the opening warm-up game against Ireland would have been deeply disruptive." - Simon Thomas, Western Mail

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