Wales have seen further players released from their World Cup training squad, with Ken Owens, Josh Macleod and Will Davies-King all ruled out.
Hooker Owens is the big-name withdrawal, with injury denying the hooker a fourth World Cup appearance.
Here's everything Warren Gatland had to say following the news...
What's the latest with injuries?
"Josh Macleod came in with an injury from the Scarlets. We injected the shoulder and it did not come right. He needs an operation and we're hoping he will come into contention later on. We released him two or three weeks ago.
"Ken didn't train at all with us, his back has not recovered. He wanted to reiterate he has not retired from rugby and again he is hoping potentially he could be available maybe later if we pick up injuries in the tournament or something like that.
"Will Davies-King did a plantar fascia on the first day of training; He was rehabbed and he thought it was right but unfortunately he did it again and was released from the squad too.
"Toby Faletau will not travel to Switzerland in the first week. He has a bit of a calf injury. I spoke to him about staying behind, he has three young kids, his wife has just had a baby. He is going to get some treatment here and come out on Saturday 8 July. I gave him the option and I was more than comfortable with that.
"Alex Cuthbert and Owen Williams won't be travelling but they will hopefully be all right for Turkey. We have 47 in the squad, we were looking at taking 45 with the players having worked so hard it felt it would not be fair to drop one or two players. We will probably drop it down to high 30s maybe 38 before Turkey and the warm-up games.
How big a blow is that for Ken Owens?
"He has not been able to do any of the training, with the back issue. It is the same injury but not as severe as before so he may need an operation on that.
"He is just getting pain in his calf and can't run fully. He was trying to do a bit of work so we gave him as much time as possible. He is really disappointed, he has been a great servant for Welsh rugby but we have some real strength in depth in that squad with the other hookers. We have brought Sam Parry into the squad so we are back up to four hookers.
After Owens was captain for the Six Nations, what will happen with the captaincy now?
"Co-captaincy is a possibility. We did that with Ellis Jenkins and Cory Hill in 2018 and it worked well. It is something I have put out there potentially as an option, it is not guaranteed we will do that.
"We will put a leadership group together and we will tell the players. You look at the squad and I don't think there are any guaranteed starting positions and players will get opportunities in the squad.
"It is looking at the team and picking the right person as captain, it is the support they are going to get or is it potentially co-captains that can share that role and responsibility.
Would you consider a young captain again?
"Yes absolutely. We have time for that with the two camps and seeing more of the rugby. We have been doing that more with players getting plenty of touches on the ball.
"We probably won’t name a captain or captains until we name the squad."
With training camps to Switzerland and Turkey coming up, are you glad to be getting away from the Welsh bubble?
"There hasn’t been a lot of positivity about rugby in Wales. We’d like to change the narrative and get as much positivity about there as possible. That has a huge psychological effect on the players in terms of trying to send those messages.
"I’ve told the players today that, as a nation, we should be proud of how we’ve punched above our weight in the past. We’re the smallest nation in terms of Tier One nations. If you look at our economy, it’s small compared to Scotland, Ireland and England.
"We don’t have major industries. We don’t have our own bank. When you look at things, we should be really proud of what we’ve done in the past, how hard these guys are working and how much success we’ve had. There’s a lot of expectation but we’ve punched above our weight in the past.
"We’ve got some work to do. I’ll put my hand up and say the Six Nations wasn’t good enough in terms of our expectations, but I’m really excited with this group of players and the work they’re putting in. The atmosphere in the group and how they’ve been working together. I think there’s a really good buzz around the squad right now. I’m really, really optimistic."
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Do you get the sense that they’re blocking out that noise?
"It’s hard to do that. We’ve had some players that we’ve released from the squad and they said they didn’t want that information released.
"You’ve got to respect players on that because some of it is medical or personal. They said we don’t want you to say anything. We’ve respected their wishes where, in an ideal scenario, you’d like to be able to communicate all that stuff and keep everyone up to date as much as possible.
"That’s been a reflection of some of the things that have been going on behind the scenes. The players are looking and they don’t want a story written about them that potentially has a negative slant about it. I’d like to communicate things as positively as you can but you have to respect the wishes of the players.
"That’s why I’ve spoken about how we change or create the narrative so we start thinking, let’s put the last six months behind us and look forward to what this team is potentially capable of doing. The time we have together, what we have done in the past and how we can build some confidence and momentum."
Are you concerned by how much experience you've lost?
"I look back to 2011. We won the Grand Slam in 2008, were really unlucky in 2009 and there was a group of players coming towards the end in 2010.
"We made those changes and brought those youngsters in. Those players we brought in made an impression and they were brilliant. We lost that first game against South Africa. I’m still convinced James Hook’s penalty went over. Then you’re under the pump.
"We played a really good Samoa team and we were down at half-time. I went down into the changing room and Sam Warburton had the players in a huddle, telling them we’re not going home after all the work and effort we’d put in.
"We haven’t done all this hard graft and been through all that pain in Poland to go home. As a coach, I knew I didn’t have to say anything. We went out second-half, played well, Shane Williams scores a great try and we win.
"If we lose that, we’re out of the World Cup and we don’t get a chance to play Ireland in the quarter-final. From there, we probably should have made the final of the World Cup.
"I feel like there’s some real competition. There’s a group of players who have come in that are really enthusiastic. Some of the older players are looking over their shoulder at the younger ones.
"I feel like it’s a really healthy environment at the moment. I can’t talk more highly about the players and the work they’ve been putting in. Mentally we are in a really good place."
Do you see shades of Sam Warburton and Taulupe Faletau from 2011 in the likes of Dewi Lake, Jac Morgan and Tommy Reffell?
"Absolutely. The older players know they have to work hard because they face some real competition. That's what I want.
"There has been no judgement on the squad, I'm not looking too far ahead - I just want to give everyone an equal opportunity to impress over the next few weeks at the camps and in the warm-up games. Then we'll sit down and make a decision on what the squad is going to look like.
"It's important for me not to have too many opinions at this stage and just to tell the players they have a chance to impress and to go and make the most of it. It's done to them to impress the coaches and make us select them."
When do you make a decision on Ken Owens possibly being injury cover?
"He's not going to be available for the World Cup squad. He might need an operation, but if he gets himself right and back into training he could come into the reckoning if we get some injuries.
"HIAs are one of the things we haven't considered too much as yet. If you get an HIA at the moment you are out fo r 12 days. Is that going to mean we have to release a player from the squad because you can't afford to have someone unavailable for 12 days. It's not something we've thought about or discussed. Once we release them from a squad we can't call them back."
Is that why they've gone for bigger squads?
"Maybe that's why we've got bigger squads. There is always a compromise when you are picking 31 players. We have started to think about whether it is an 18-15 mix, 19-14 or 20-13.
"When you look at those there is still probably one position you in which you could be a little bit light on. Do you have four second rows, or do you only take two No 9s and three 10's or the other away around. That mix will be a discussion for later when we pick the squad."
How has Ken Owens reacted?
"He's obviously gutted, but he's an incredibly positive person. He's had an extra 18 months out of the game with that back injury that he wasn't going to have before.
"He said he got more out of it than he expected. He wanted to reiterate he hasn't retired from rugby and hopefully he can continue to play for a little bit longer. We will wait and see how he recovers and recuperates.
"There is some pretty strong competition for his place with Dewi Lake and Ryan Elias being back in full training. We also have Elliot Dee and Sam Parry, so there is good, strong competition in that position."
Do the players understand you a bit more now after these mini-camps?
"I think so yeah. Just giving simple messages through the other coaches and Martyn Williams about the standards we expect both on and off the field, and making sure we drive that, but not so much from a coaching perspective.
"I spoke to the players today about how powerful peer pressure was and then being comfortable being critical of their team mates about the standards they expect from each other. So those are the types of things we need to make sure we are really strong with and drive.
"As a group we need to get as much out of the players as we possibly can because we expect to do well hopefully because the hard work we put in."
How does this squad compare to different years?
"Different in a way. There is no doubt that the physicality of the players- they are getting bigger- there are some young players that are a bit green, but even in a short of period of time we seen how they have developed.
"Probably the best example for me I think is someone like Rio Dyer. He is obviously pretty wet behind the ears in terms of his experience but you just see the effort and the work he puts in, just conscious of trying to improve his game all the time.
"Yeah he makes mistakes, he is a young player but he just wants to get better and better. He is not the only one, I’ve seen that with the midfielders and some of the young second rows. They’re all sponges in terms of wanting to learn and wanting to get better, I see that as hugely positive."
How are you finding the return to Wales?
"I’m great. I’m really good. I’m incredibly excited. I know there were some comments the other week from that podcast I did. If people have listened to it they’ll see I’ve made a few jokes about things.
"I’m so happy to be back here. I’m excited about what we can potentially achieve. I made the right decision – there is no doubt about that. I’m just looking forward."
What's the latest with Henry Thomas club future?
"No. I’m not too sure. I think he’s got options. I’m not 100 per cent sure."
Have Montpellier changed their minds again then?
"Yeah. I think so. I think he’s got options. But Montpellier have come back and offered him something. That’s my understanding of it but I’m not 100 per cent convinced that’s the case."
What's your verdict on him?
"Good. He’s been really good. He’s fitted in well. He seems to be enjoying it. I said to him “How are things?” and obviously he was a bit apprehensive to start coming in with meeting players.
"He knew a few of the players and he’s said he’s found the guys brilliant in terms of welcoming him in and making him feel a part of it. He’s been good."
