Jamie Roberts Returns As Wales Fear Jonathan Davies Will Be Sidelined

Jamie Roberts is back in the Wales squad with Wales fearing they have lost injured centre Jonathan Davies for the rest of the autumn series.

Roberts, who has won 93 caps, missed out on a place in the original 36-man party announced by Wales head coach Warren Gatland last month.

But he has now reported for duty at Wales’ training base, along with another call-up in Cardiff Blues prop Scott Andrews, who is currently on loan with Aviva Premiership club Bath.

Wales are awaiting a medical update on centre Davies’s fitness after he was injured during Saturday’s 29-21 defeat against Australia.

The Scarlets players was helped from the Principality Stadium pitch after suffering a suspected ankle injury during the dying seconds.

Wales assistant coach Neil Jenkins said: “We’re still waiting on him (Davies). Everyone saw it, it doesn’t look great.

“He’s going to struggle for the rest of this autumn but hopefully it’s not too serious. I’m not saying he’s out but we just need to see where he’s at.

“He was outstanding for the Lions and last year for us. He’s a world class player.

“I’m not 100% sure when we’ll know. I’d have thought pretty soon. It’s just an ankle problem. The sad thing is he’s been playing incredibly well and it was right at the end of the game as well. We’ll see what the outcome is.

On the return of Roberts, who was left out originally by Gatland in favour of Gloucester’s Owen Williams, Jenkins added: “He’s an outstanding player. He was unlucky to miss out initially.

“He’s been part of the set-up for a very long time and he’ll just fit in. He’s a fantastic player and person.”

Gatland looks set to make several changes for next Saturday’s appointment with Georgia, before Wales take on world champions New Zealand on November 25, and then South Africa seven days later.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Welsh Rugby Union said: “Jamie Roberts and Scott Andrews have been called into the Wales squad as injury cover and arrived in camp this morning as the squad reconvened ahead of the game against Georgia on Saturday.

“Further injury update will be made in due course following medical assessments.”

Roberts, 31, captained Wales in their summer Tests against Tonga and Samoa earlier this year, and was a surprise omission from Gatland’s autumn squad.

Andrews provides cover with Scarlets tighthead Samson Lee continuing his progression from an Achilles injury, while Exeter prop Tomas Francis is unavailable for Wales’ finale against South Africa as that game falls outside World Rugby’s autumn Test window.

 

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