AFP/Cardiff


Wales were dealt a hammerblow yesterday when full-back Leigh Halfpenny was ruled out of the Rugby World Cup after suffering torn right knee ligaments in a warm-up match against Italy on the weekend.
Toulon star Halfpenny, one of the outstanding goal-kickers of his generation, sustained the injury in Wales’ hard-fought 23-19 win over the Azzurri at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
Halfpenny, 26, underwent a scan yesterday, with Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal informing that his star full-back would now be out for around six months.
The Welsh Rugby Union added: “Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny has suffered an ACL injury, ruling him out of the forthcoming Rugby World Cup.
“Leigh will undergo further examination and assessment before further details are announced.”
Wales kick off their World Cup campaign against Uruguay on September 20, going on to play hosts England, Fiji and two-time champions Australia in the toughest of the four pools.
The line-up means at least one of rugby union’s major nations won’t qualify for the quarter-finals as only the top two teams go through to the last eight. Aside from Halfpenny, Wales could face more bad news, with in-form scrum-half Rhys Webb also injured against the Italians.
Webb suffered suspected serious ligament damage to his ankle in the first half after falling awkwardly at a ruck.
It would be a further cruel blow for Wales coach Warren Gatland, who already lost key centre Jonathan Davies at the start of the summer.
Halfpenny’s understudy Liam Williams is only himself coming back from a broken bone in his foot.
Gatland will now look to call up a replacement for Halfpenny, likely to come down between New Zealand-born utility back Gareth Anscombe, who is also currently out for up to three weeks with an ankle ligament injury, and James Hook. Both are proven kickers.
Mike Phillips is the natural choice to replace Webb, particularly given the lack of experience between remaining scrum-halves Gareth Davies and Lloyd Williams.
Earlier, former Wales winger Shane Williams questioned whether Wales coach Warren Gatland really needed to play Halfpenny in Saturday's warm-up match against Italy.
Williams even said the country was “in mourning” over the blows taken by both backs. “It’s just horrendous for Wales,” said Williams at the launch of broadcaster ITV’s World Cup coverage on Monday. “Rhys Webb has been the form player for Wales over the last two seasons. To lose Halfpenny as well, it’s just a massive blow for Wales and it couldn’t have come at a worse time.
“You kind of thought ‘do we need this guy on the field? Let’s wrap him up in cotton wool and roll him out when we really need him’.
“It is a massive blow and Wales is in mourning already. Especially with Halfpenny, he was strapped up on his leg anyway.”