TOKYO: Cardiff Blues winger Owen Lane will arrive in Japan Tuesday as a surprise replacement for injured number eight Josh Navidi ahead of Sunday’s World Cup semi-final against South Africa, according to the Welsh Rugby Union.
Navidi sustained a grade two hamstring tear in the gripping 20-19 quarter-final win over France.
With five of the six named backrowers still fit, coach Warren Gatland warned Monday the replacement for Navidi would be a back.
And the WRU confirmed in a tweet that Lane was en route for Japan.
Centre Jonathan Davies is nursing a knee injury that saw him ruled out of the France game an hour before kick-off and midfield partner Hadleigh Parkes played with a shoulder contusion and a bone fracture in his hand.
Davies is expected to be fit and available for Sunday’s semi against the Springboks, but should one centre break down, it is likely winger George North would be considered as cover given that Lane is an out-and-out winger.--AFP