Wednesday Round-Up

Gatland defends selection for Italy game: Wales boss Warren Gatland has defended his decision to play Rhys Webb and Leigh Halfpenny so close to the Rugby World Cup.

Both players suffered major injuries which have now ruled them out of the tournament.

"There was more than one player out there with strapping," Gatland told WalesOnline.

"Half a dozen players or probably more than that get strapped up before every game.

"Leigh had that strapping on before the game in Dublin (Wales won 16-10 against Ireland). It’s something he’d had there for the last three weeks and used it when he was kicking. He said he didn’t really need the strapping, but because he’d been using it for the last two or three weeks, he put it on.

"He had just been a little bit tight in the back of his knee about three weeks ago. It was nothing to do with the injury that he picked up on the weekend. And it wasn’t heavy strapping, it was very light strapping. I checked that out with the physios.

"I know there has been some criticism about protecting players and you always question yourself about that. It’s just trying to get the balance right between players having enough rugby and keeping players fresh.

"I looked at that before the game in terms of some of those players that had played the week before in Dublin.

"If they weren’t involved in the first group game against Uruguay and then played against England, well that’s four weeks between the two matches and for some of those players that’s a little bit long and they want to play a bit more.

"Look, people are entitled to their opinions and I understand the disappointment of everybody out there saying that certain players should have been protected, but you can’t predict everyone and you have a game to go out and win."

England to face Wales in test match in May: England and Wales will face off in Twickenham next May as they prepare for their tours in the Southern Hemisphere.

The pair will meet on Sunday the 29th of May ahead of Wales touring New Zealand and England facing Australia in 3 test matches, so this fixture is seen as good preparation for two tough tours for both sides. 

The last time these 2 met England defeated Wales at the Millenium Stadium and they will also meet at this years World Cup in Pool A and next years 6 Nations so they will know eachother quite well when this fixture comes around next year.

Both finals in the Pro12 and Aviva Premiership take place the day before this fixture on the 28th of May so there will more than likely be an issue on availability of some key players.

Dan Hayes