Rugby World Cup
Wales coach Warren Gatland faces nervous wait with three more players injured in England win
Martyn Thomas
September 27, 2015
Injury problems worsen for Wales

TWICKENHAM, London -- If ever Wales needed to make a speedy getaway from Twickenham it was on Saturday night. The not inconsiderable challenge of Fiji looms on Thursday afternoon, and with the treatment room fit to bursting the work done over the next four days will be crucial if the men in red are to build on their backs-to-the-wall defeat of England.

However, the delirious Welsh fans weren't going to let their heroes depart into the night without a sing-song, and so the team bus was held up on the stadium forecourt as a throng of hundreds filled the air with hymns, arias and the national anthem.

Wales coach Warren Gatland -- who had earlier admitted he had "run out of players" -- could do little more than smile and soak it all in.

© Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Sunday is a well-earned day off for his players, but Gatland and his coaching staff may well find themselves planning for new arrivals.

Spirited Wales stun England
%]

Liam Williams delighted a nation as he tweeted on Saturday night to reassure fans he was feeling groggy but fine after his Head Injury Assessment. But concerns remain over Scott Williams' knee and Hallam Amos' dislocated shoulder and both will be assessed over the next 24 hours.

Losing either for the Rugby World Cup would be a blow, but given Gatland is already without Jonathan Davies, Leigh Halfpenny, Rhys Webb and Eli Walker due to injury any further setback would seem downright cruel.

"Apparently I'm playing centre now," lock Bradley Davies joked when asked if there was any apprehension in the camp ahead of games against Fiji and Australia.

"No, it's part and parcel of the game, hopefully we can patch each other up. It's very hard to tell now, [we need to] give it 24 hours, let the dust settle and see where we are from there.

England 25-28 Wales (Australia only)
%]

"If that means maybe patching the boys up, not training as much as we'd like to to get the boys on the field then maybe that's what we'll have to do."

Were Amos or Scott Williams to be ruled out then Gatland would realistically have to decide who to call up from Gareth Anscombe (if fit), James Hook or Rhys Patchell. Walker's own fitness would surely also be checked upon too.

But in theory, at least, the Kiwi could also operate a make-do-and-mend policy. Davies was obviously being jovial when he put himself forward as a possible midfield rival to Tyler Morgan but would Justin Tipuric not be an interesting option to fill in?

"It's not a bad shout," Gethin Jenkins concurred when quizzed on a possible shift into the backs for the flanker. "He's a skilful player, I suppose he's got the ability to play there."

Jenkins himself was forced to play 80 minutes at Twickenham as Aaron Jarvis remained on the bench nursing a rib injury.

And it was telling that while the centurion hailed victory over England as one of the best he has been involved in, he credited the strength and resolve of the squad as a whole.

"[It's] up there with the best for me," he added. "Not so much for the performance, because I thought we could have played a lot better but the way we came back and showed that belief. It's great for the squad and it's a great victory for us."

© Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

Wales' players enjoyed a sing-along of their own before departing their dressing room and boarding that bus on Saturday night. The positivity of the victors was infectious, yet this is a squad who are well aware the objective of knockout rugby is far from achieved.

Gatland's men have a woeful record against the Wallabies, while Wales do not have tournament history on their side against the Fijians either. Regardless of injuries they must take the spirit that was displayed at Twickenham into their final two Pool A games if they are to get the job done.

"We're obviously a bit thin on the ground in the backs but the physios will do as much as they can in that area," Jenkins said. "Mentally now we need to recover for two days and then switch on for Fiji because they're a quality team."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.