Wales sweating over captain as Boks loom

INJURY UPDATE: Wales is the latest team sweating over the fitness of key players, just weeks out from the World Cup.

Dewi Lake’s bid to captain Wales at the World Cup is in limbo after he damaged a knee during the 17-19 loss to England this past weekend.

The hooker lasted 27 minutes of a bruising warm-up match before injuring a leg when England skipper Owen Farrell fell on him at a ruck.

Lake, 24, painfully limped away off at Twickenham and a scan, due to take place on Tuesday could determine whether Wales coach Warren Gatland picks him in his World Cup squad of 33, when he names it next Monday.

Wales-born back row forward Taine Plumtree, who Gatland recently recruited from New Zealand, also faces a potential make-or-break scan after being forced off by a shoulder injury.

But there’s brighter news on Taine Basham, with Wales backs coach Alex King revealing the flank or No.8 didn’t suffer a concussion when he copped a shoulder to the head from Farrell, who was sent off for foul play.

Basham, if he continues to pass return-to-play protocols, could be in contention to face World Cup holders South Africa at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

British and Irish Lions wing Alex Cuthbert and hard-running centre Johnny Williams may also get a chance to stake claims for places in Gatland’s World Cup party – Wales open their bid for glory against Fiji in Bordeaux on September 10 – by lining up against the Springboks.

“Cuthy is back in training, as is Johnny,” King said.

“It’s about building the depth of the squad.

“Everyone has been brilliant and it’s great people have had opportunities to be seen in a Test match environment.

“We will be at full-bore to win the game with South Africa.

“It’s a really good test for us as they present a good challenge – they have beaten Argentina twice and Australia, and beat England at Twickenham last autumn.”

Source: @WelshRugbyUnion

🧢 The new caps

👏 Llongyfarchiadau bois!

1192, 1193 and 1194#WelshRugby pic.twitter.com/ZMPu48gfAW

— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@WelshRugbyUnion) August 14, 2023