Wales have suffered a further injury blow ahead of the Rugby World Cup, with wing Eli Walker ruled out with a hamstring problem. Gloucester flanker Ross Moriarty, who won his first cap earlier in the summer in a warm-up game, has been called in in his replacement.
Feel for @EliWalker24 having to miss out because of injury. Unbelievably thankful to be given a call up and can't wait to get back involved
— Ross Moriarty (@RossMoriarty6) September 14, 2015
The decision to replace a winger with a flanker is an intriguing one, and shows how highly Moriarty is regarded by the Wales coaching staff. It is also a reflection of how thin on the ground Wales’ back three stocks are – they will have just George North, Alex Cuthbert, Liam Williams, Hallam Amos and Matthew Morgan to pick from.
For talented winger Walker, it is the latest in a series of immeasurably cruelly-timed injury blows, which has sadly very much become the story of his career.
A WRU statement read: “Due to the nature of the impending competition and the potential for his injury to extend into the latter stages of the pool stage, the decision has been made to release Eli at present.”
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
As you know by now, we are hilarious, and you should be following us on Facebook and Twitter. 
Not much going right for the Welsh at the moment.
Its a massive shame as we all want to see the best players on the pitch.
Still, looking on the bright side for Welsh fans, at least it gives them an excuse they didn’t have previously for when they are inevitably beaten by both Australia and England and then lose to Fiji in a replay of their 2007 game
But what excuses will England have when the 98% of English who assume Eng are the best team in the world see that they’re nowhere near being so?
Shots fired!
The ref of course! Durr. ..
Plenty!
The referee and James Haskell being two of my favourites
98% Brighty?
Has Enoch stolen your login details???
Oh gosh, I’ve suddenly become a minority! I’m assuming that Pablito had tongue firmly in cheek – did you Brighty?
;-)
James Haskell mind is a brilliant excuse for anything. That would stop any debating.
Looks like you have over stepped the mark Brighty!
Go on” it’s the decent thing to do”
(Muffled shots)
DDD
“There were a great number attending the service who didn’t know him well enough not to come………………”
“…… but as soon as DDD heard there was free booze and food, we couldn’t stop him”.
Brighty – Racial stereotyping – sure begorrahhhh where would ye be going with that – hand ball against a haystack!!
DDD
Go on” it’s the decent thing to do”
Ah, the arrogance of a man who assumes a dig at him is a dig at his entire country…
DNDD
Virtually everybody in the world English or otherwise assume the All Blacks are the best team in the world. It doesn’t mean that with luck, home advantage and a following wind England couldn’t win it though. Wales could also, but with the injuries the following wind they need is getting stronger and stronger!
Whilst I think consistency has proven NZ are the best in the world cos that’s how the rankings work, their are a number of teams who could win this, Wales, England, Ireland, Australia, South Africa would be top contenders outside of NZ. However, I don’t foresee the others (France, Argentina etc) pulling it into context.
The thing is it takes 1 loss to knock you our as goes a tournament, we all need a little luck to see our team through, I’m just hoping the injuries were wales bad luck and no we’ll be in for some good fortune lol
I would put a lot of money that they wont lose 3 in the group, hell I’m putting a lot of money that we won’t lose 2. I do fear we may lose 1 but I think its about time we broke our SH issues lol
I’ve tried to be a good sport n all cos I want a NH-only final but if I keep seeing so many “wales doom” comments coming from England I may end up being an ABE fan like my Scottish wife is :p Generally speaking I back Home nations over anyone else obviously Wales in any home nation games.
However, as I have said many times I don’t want excuses come the end of the games, we field a team regardless of injuries and the best team at the end of the day will come away with it.
So bored of arrogant England nonsense. I genuinely don’t believe they can be called that anymore
Who called them arrogant?
I was a) making a joke b) the only slight substance in my pt is that by and large it’s a minority sport in England but during the WC it will attract a lot of people who will be expecting England to win it because it’s rugger, and Jonny Wilkinson, and they won the last one (and why hasn’t there been another once since 2003?)….
As Jamie wrote about a few weeks ago – it’s slightly depressing the general lack of fanfare accompanying this WC. Us rugby fans couldn’t be more excited, but there are loads of people throughout Britain (yeah, I know it’s a WC in England but that means it’s all over the British Broadcasters so I think I can refer to Britain) who have no idea it is even on this weekend. Disappointing.
I blame the BBC for basically ignoring it is even happening just because they didn’t get the rights to broadcast it.
Instead of pre launch build up, pudits thoughts, player interviews and insightful analysis the BBC sport website has published an article titled “is English rugby just for posh kids” instead
That BBC article was an eye opener though? 4% (I think?) of English boys educated in private school, but over 1/3rd of the side was? A missed opportunity for English rugby or perhaps just a reality of the way the development system works? (was thinking that any decent comp players get snapped up on private school scholarships, so it skews the figures?).
Yep scholarships is part of it. Unfortunately the infrastructure/coaching doesn’t seem to be there in state schools either so lots of talent missed but its not surprising in country where like it or not rugby is a minority sport
The article may have had some merit but the timing of publication is shocking
To be fair every sport is a minority sport in England, compared to Football.
I suspect that Rugby (both types) is one of the least minority sports. the problem is that Football is SO dominant, and for some reason Rugby-playing PE teachers are far fewer on the ground than others.
To my mind, having a high proportion of Internationals spending time at Private Schools is a good thing, as their rugby provides them with an opportunity for a better education.
Make no mistake, here in the home counties, some private schools are very keen to hoover up the better teenagers being groomed at the county and prem academy age groups.
Agree with you about the timing of the article Blub and just think it’s a bit of the sneering from the average BBC sports journalist. Their main rugby guy on 5 live is a 100% league man and he can barely conceal his contempt when discussing union. The BBC give masses of coverage to league in my experience when it can’t help but feel like a completely niche sport to those of us outside it’s heartlands. I’m not dissing league, I’m just amazed that it gets so much national coverage when it’s a regional phenomenon.
My history teacher at school was a Welsh bloke called Barry Carless. He was captain of Exeter Chiefs back in the 70s and doubled up as our PE teacher. Rugby was number 1 sport for us, we were truly dreadful at football. All the private schools played rugby all the state schools played football simple as that!
Can anyone answer two questions?
1. Was Walker carrying a knock when he got called up?
2. What has Hook done to upset Gatland?
Pleased for Moriarty, in my book now playing for his correct country, but struggling to understand the logic. Would have thought bench duty at best except maybe for Uruguay. Probably won’t be in the match squad for most games. Anyone explain?
1 – Not as far as I know. Hamstring tweak in training is genuine. Poor lad has terrible luck.
2 – He’s been crap. …. Ok, facetious answers aside, he’s been pretty consistently awful in a Welsh shirt under Gats. Yes, he is capable of class, but he is also capable of terrifying, match-losing howlers. In a league campaign where hopefully the good outweighs the bad he is a good option. In a 6 match intense run of games, where one loss usually means an exit, I wouldn’t want him anywhere near my squad.
I am though unable to comprehend calling up a back rower to cover for a FB/Wing hole in the squad. Probably more to do with the general lack of options we have.
Tom James? Has he retired? He was looking pretty good at Exeter a year or so ago and last I heard he was heading back to the Blues?
Don’t understand calling another back rower up… The one area they are not remotely struggling for world class options. Another hooker I could understand. Unless they plan to stick Tipuric in the back line (tbh there are worse ideas!)
Whatever happened to Tom Prydie?
Tom James is already broken I believe
He was broken (was in the original squad), just about back to fitness for Cardiff’s first match, injured himself in that and currently out. Don’t know when he is due to return.
(As an aside it was fantastic to see him back for Cardiff).
Tipuric at centre. Now there’s a thought.
He could switch with Jamie Roberts during the match. That would confuse the opposition…
Tipuric at centre was recently one of the weirder media cries in the world cup build up – http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-should-consider-playing-justin-9900493
It wasn’t laughed out as a joke – the guy was serious and an online poll showed widespread support for it. Just goes to show why we pay coaches money – the average Welsh rugby fans favourite backline would be something like:
James Hook
Scott Williams
Tipuric
Matthew Morgan
George North
Liam Williams
(yes, you read that right, JD and The Doc are not that well loved and Halfpenny is criticised for being nothing more than a kicker). There is this romantic notion that all we need to do is get “naturally talented ball players” onto the pitch and then “the Welsh way” will come through and we’ll go all Barry John on everyone. Seems to kind of forget that most of rugby is, like it or not, about stopping the oppo scoring.
Whilst I like Scott & Liam Williams together and North as well, I wouldn’t want Hook on the pitch and I’m not too fussed about Morgan either. I want to see a Tipuric Warburton fulltime partnership cos the few occasions they’ve been at it together they make for a solid defence.
Thank you Brighty. Wasn’t sure if Walker had been carrying a knock when called in. Note what you say about Hooky, and sort of agree at FH but thought he was good and consistent at FB last season when played there. Looked to be his best position imo. Guess strength in depth is probably your Achilles heal.