That was the headline news out of the Wales camp as forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys faced the media ahead of Saturday’s Autumn Nations Cup clash with Georgia at Parc Y Scarlets.
Head coach Wayne Pivac has already intimated there will be wholesale changes from last weekend for the fourth of six games Wales will play in this international block. Davies would ordinarily be expected to sit-out the Georgia game, but Moriarty and Navidi are looking to make their first appearances since lockdown sooner rather than later.
“Jonathan is in the process of having scans. Probably in the next 24 hours we’ll be able to identify how serious that knee injury is,” admitted Humphreys.
“He seems to be in a good place. And he’s up and walking about. He was keen to get games under his belt, so hopefully it’s not too serious and he’ll be back pretty quick.
“We’re monitoring Ross and Josh – it’s literally a day by day process with them. But their injuries have helped us look at other people.
“When we’re talking about the 2023 World Cup, perhaps Shane Lewis-Hughes wouldn’t have had his opportunity in this campaign otherwise. It’s been great looking at Shane and now Jim Botham.
“We do miss both Ross and Josh in terms of their personality and physicality in games, but it also gives us an opportunity to look at others.”
Lewis-Hughes now has two caps under his belt having made his debut against Scotland and held onto his place in the back row against the Irish. Now he has his Cardiff Blues team mate Botham in the squad with him after he was called-up this week.
Despite only having 13 senior games with the Blues under his belt, the former Wales U18 and U20 cap has caught the eye with his explosive performances this season and has been on the radar of the Welsh coaches for some time.
“We identified him in the derby games. Well, before that probably, but most memorably in the derby games,” added Humphreys.
“He had some big moments in those games and athletically he certainly has the ability to compete in international rugby. It was at point that we really identified him as someone who, going forward to 2023, would certainly be part of our plans.
“With the injuries we have had, and the uncertainty over some people being able to start on the weekend, it was a great opportunity to bring him in.”
Humphreys is expecting another tough day at the office in Llanelli this weekend when the Georgians arrive. They are renowned for their forward ferocity and the Wales forwards coach is seeking greater consistency from his players as they look to break a run of six straight defeats.
“It’s been frustrating, especially with the inconsistencies we showed in the first-half especially in Ireland. But the positives were that we didn’t go into our shell in the second-half and the execution was better than it had been in the first,” he added.
“Our set-piece stopped us getting the field possession and momentum we needed in the first-half. What makes it all the more frustrating is that when we execute as we can, it all looks pretty good.
“When we get into positions where we can actually go forward, we need to execute under pressure. There’s still a lot of learning for all of us to go through.
“As a group of coaches, we know where we want to get to and we know what it’s going to take. We’re trying to fast-forward some of the experience for the younger players, but there isn’t really a fast-forward button for that.
“I know it’s hard to say, but some of the hard times are the most enjoyable times because you are trying to find a way a way to move forward. We what to provide clarity for the players and we feel we are doing that.”
