Wales backs Gareth Anscombe and Owen Watkin are both non-starters for the Ospreys in their United Rugby Championship game against the Lions in Swansea on Saturday evening.
Fellow national-squad tourists Gareth Thomas, Sam Parry and Alex Cuthbert are also on the Llandarcy-based region’s injured list, but Dan Lydiate is available after missing the opening round of URC matches.
Anscombe left the field in the 65h minute of last weekend’s 23-23 encounter against the Scarlets in Llanelli, while Watkin also picked up a head knock. The pair, who both featured for Wales in the Tests against South Africa this summer, have to stand down for a minimum of 12 days post-injury under concussion protocols introduced in June.
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The Ospreys will replace Anscombe with either Stephen Myler or Jack Walsh for the game against the Lions, with either George North or Michael Collins likely to wear the No. 13 shirt in the absence of Watkin.
“We have a couple of HIAs,” confirmed Ospreys head coach Toby Booth. “Owen Watkin and Gareth Anscombe will miss out. The new protocol means they are unavailable. We need to make sure we look after people.”
The Ospreys will have to play a waiting game over Thomas and Parry, too.
Thomas emerged as an unexpected star of Wales’ tour of South Africa, not only performing well in the scrums but fronting up superbly in defence. His direct opponent at setpiece-time was Frans Malherbe, a veritable monster of a tighthead who, figures released before the current Rugby Championship suggest, was in credit to the tune of 34 scrum penalties over his Test career. But Thomas dug in against him and emerged with his reputation enhanced. Former Wales prop Adam Jones later described the west Walian as “brilliant” after his efforts in South Africa, but he is off limits to the Ospreys because of a leg injury.
“He just felt it in training,” explained Booth. “We thought we’d leave it to the game to see how he was. He’s a big player for us and strength in depth is important.
“While we have Nicky Smith, Garyn Phillips and Rhys Henry behind him, there’s no point in risking a hamstring-type injury when you don’t have to. We want people to get back and stay back. We just have to be pragmatic. He’s ready when he’s ready, but it won’t be too long.”
Cuthbert injured a shoulder playing for Wales in South Africa, while Parry isn’t ready after a bump, but having Lydiate back in the selection mix will be seen as a plus.
The most destructive of all Welsh back-row forwards, Lydiate turned back the clock in South Africa to justify his selection at the age of 34 with some outstanding displays with his effort in the second Test seeing him make 18 tackles without missing. In the final Test, he had to leave the field early after taking a nasty knock above his right eye. But he’s ready to go again.
“Lyds is fine, he’s the only one available for selection,” said Booth when asked about possible concerns. “The other boys are still working their way back.”
Asked how he reintegrated Wales players, he said: “Some of our international boys come back straight away, some feature on the bench, some may not be involved, some may not be ready to be involved. It’s done on an individual basis. We were afforded that luxury around Dan, to be a little bit more time sensitive around him, and he required that time. But to have him champing at the bit and ready to go is exciting.”
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