It's easy to forget how much talent Wales were missing when giving South Africa a hurry-up in the recent Test series between the countries.
Really, the absence of so many quality players makes their effort in the republic all the more commendable.
But, hopefully, most of the cavalry will soon return and boost not just Wayne Pivac's squad but their clubs and regions as well.
We take a look at when the absentees are likely to return.
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Ken Owens
The hooker played just two games for the Scarlets last season because of a prolapsed disc in his back which has required surgery to correct.
He hasn’t figured at all for Wales.
While his Test replacements have performed admirably, The Sheriff, as Owens is affectionately known, has been missed for his leadership, experience, presence and influence on others: when he plays, those around him play better.
Players like him are worth their weight in gold to a coach.
Speaking after James Hook’s testimonial game in June, Owens said: “We haven’t put a time frame on it, purely because of the nature of the injury.
“It’s proven a lot more serious than we first thought and where I am in my career I’m giving it as much time as possible to correct itself.
“I remember when I did my neck. I said I’d be back in four weeks but it turned out I was out for five months. So I’ve learned from my mistakes and I’m just taking it as it comes.
"When I’m back, I’m back.
“But I’m in a good spot and rehab’s going well.” You can read more about him here.
Nothing definite, then, but Owens is running again and the quiet expectation is we won’t have to wait too long for his return.
Justin Tipuric
The signs are encouraging that the master flanker will be ready for action sooner than later.
Mind you, we’ve read words to that effect a few times before now.
There were hopes that Tipuric would be back midway through last season from the scapula injury he suffered while on duty with the Lions last year.
But the story hasn’t worked out as planned so far.
Encouragingly, though, pictures on the Ospreys Twitter feed show the openside in training.
The word is positive, too, that he is ready to put the misery of the past year behind him.
Ashton Hewitt
He’s still been on our TV screens over the past season in his capacity as a pundit, and very good he’s been in the role, too — bright and articulate, and willing to constructively criticise performances when the need arises. For someone who’s still playing, that can take some doing.
He’s been out since April 2021 after suffering serious knee damage playing against Northampton.
It’s easy to forget how quick and dangerous he is.
Recently, he described himself as “fully fit and raring to go”.
It’ll be good to see him back.
Ross Moriarty
Derby County football supporters one held up a banner in praise of a truly outstanding defender who, sadly, had more than his fair share of injuries over his career.
It ran: “Paul McGrath limps on water.”
Ross Moriarty hasn’t reached that point yet.
But he could do with a change of fortune. He sustained nerve damage around the knee area playing for the Dragons against the Sharks on April 1. He subsequently underwent surgery on the problem with the backrower sharing a post on social media of himself in a hospital bed with his damaged leg bandaged up. He said: "Op four in two seasons, I know my luck will change, every sportsperson has a spell of bad luck, but I will be ready for next season.”
If ever a bloke deserved the rugby gods to smile on him, it’s Moriarty.
Tomas Francis
Can we expect to see the tighthead prop early in the season?
Brain injuries are not easy to predict.
Francis returned home early from Wales’ tour of South Africa after picking up a head knock in the opening Test. Barely four months earlier he’d been involved in a clash of heads against England at Twickenham which clearly left him dazed and struggling for balance.
He also had a back injury to contend with over the back end of the campaign.
All concerned will surely be on alert to take special care of Francis, then, especially given the head knocks he has suffered of late.
When he resumes will be in the hands of specialists.
Leigh Halfpenny
Barely six weeks ago, one of Wales’ most-respected players in the professional era put out a video showing him running at a gentle pace.
Accompanying the images and a picture were a few words, with Halfpenny saying: “Running into the weekend like…Great to get the boots back on.”
Fellow players queued up to wish him well.
Hopefully, heading in the right direction, then.
But so serious was the knee injury Halfpenny suffered on Wales duty in the summer of 2021 that no return date has been set yet.
It’s a case of step by step, quietly marking progress and dealing with hitches that are part and parcel of the recovery process.
Hopefully, he’ll be back at some stage before Christmas.
Scott Williams
Good news here as Williams appears fine after the shoulder injury he sustained playing for the Scarlets against Cardiff in the spring.
It was a disappointing end to what had been a strong personal season for the ex-Wales captain, when he was arguably the top-performing centre in Welsh rugby.
But he seems fixed again and is said to be looking forward to the new campaign.
Samson Lee
The Scarlets prop returned home early from his team's tour of South Africa in March after rupturing an Achilles tendon. It's a long-haul recovery for the luckless Lee. Maybe he'll be back at some point this autumn, maybe not. Given the likeable tighthead's injury record, the certainty is the Scarlets will not take any risks.
Johnny McNicholl
The back-three man is recovering from the knee injury he sustained during what had been a stellar personal performance against Cardiff at the Arms Park on April 9.
The previous weekend he’d been in even better form with two tries and a man-of-the-match display crowning his hundredth appearance for the west Walians.
No-one’s been definite on a return date, but the best guess is early season.
Aneurin Owen
“I will be back for the start of the season, which is exciting, and this time out has certainly given me a greater appreciation of playing and how much you miss it when you are taken out of it. When you are watching other people train and play you realise how much you miss it and really enjoy it.”
So ran the words of highly rated Dragons youngster recently, as he continues to prepare for his rugby return.
The talented and creative centre saw the final months of the 2021-22 campaign wiped out for him after he fractured an ankle playing against Munster in early March.
But his recovery has seemingly progressed without major hitches.
Aaron Wainwright
"Waino will be out for eight to 10 weeks and that looks like it will involve him missing the summer with a stress fracture on his heel,” announced Dragons team boss Dean Ryan in early May.
Wainwright was indeed deemed unavailable for the series with the Springboks. But the time frame outlined by Ryan means he should be fit for early season.
Willis Halaholo
Fate seems to have it in for this guy where Wales are concerned, with injuries striking just as he seems to be working up the gears.
His latest setback came in the shape of a hamstring problem sustained in a man-of-the-match performance for Cardiff against Glasgow Warriors on March 26, causing him to miss Wales’ tour of South Africa.
The prognosis was that he’d be out for up to 12 weeks.
But with his ability to offer something different, Halaholo will still be well and truly on the selectors’ collective radar screen.
He’ll hope for a prompt start to the new campaign.
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