Warren Gatland attacked ‘disrespectful’; Wales’ growing frontline resources will come under the microscope as head coach Warren Gatland finalizes his touring squad for Australia.
Hooker Elliott D, Sam Parry and Ryan Elias are already out for the two-Test tour, while injury question marks hang over tighthead props Henry Thomas and Kieron Assiratti, with Dillon Lewis also believed to be in contention.Gatland will name a potential 34-strong squad on Monday, while 21-year-old uncapped Cardiff forward Efan Daniel looks set to secure a tour spot alongside fellow hookers Dewey Lake and Evan Lloyd. Warren Gatland attacked ‘disrespectful’ Wales player who walked out of camp.
Asiratta replaced the injured Thomas in Wales’ 41-13 loss to world champions South Africa at Twickenham.Uncapped Ospreys prop Ben Warren should be in the frame for a call-up if Gatland is ruled out with a hand injury.
Warren Gatland attacked ‘disrespectful’ Wales player who walked out of camp.
“I’ve spoken to Prav (Wales national medical manager Prav Mathema), and he’s just going to reassess it and see where all these players are at,” Gatland said.
“A few players have back problems and Henry has a leg problem. “We just need to make sure that assessment is done so we can have a clear picture of where we think some of them are.”
Elias, wing Josh Adams and lock Will Rowlands have been rested for the tour, which includes Tests against Australia on July 6 and 13, with wing Keelan Giles and flanker Jack Morgan ruled out through injury. Warren Gatland attacked ‘disrespectful’ Wales player who walked out of camp.
But Gatland will be aided by England-based players such as Nick Tompkins, Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Sheunga and Tommy Raphael, who were unable to face South Africa due to playing outside World Rugby’s summer Test window.
Meanwhile, Gatland gave his reaction to Parry leaving the training squad during Wales’ build-up to face South Africa.
Parry reportedly believed he had been “disrespected” by the Wales boss amid a claim he was advised he was only helping prepare other squad hookers ahead of the tour of Australia.”I was straight with him and told him what he was doing in the squad,” Gatland added. So, I was clear on that.
“I said, ‘Look, I don’t want to stick you around, you’ve been brilliant for us when you’ve been with us in the past and we’ll just see what happens with it’. It certainly wasn’t anything from me trying to disrespect him.Elsewhere in the squad, there could be room for former rugby league star Regan Grace, although he has only played two senior games for the Union.
Grace scored 89 tries for St Helens in a league career that saw him play in three grand final winning sides.
He ruptured his Achilles tendon in August 2022 before joining French Top 14 club Racing 92, but did not feature for them after a recurrence of the injury six months later.The 27-year-old joined Bath to continue his rehabilitation and played in friendlies against Leinster and Gloucester earlier this year as he regained full fitness.