Owen Watkin will miss Saturday’s Six Nations match against Italy after injuring his knee in Friday’s 43-0 defeat to France. Meanwhile, his Ospreys teammate, Aaron Wainwright, could feature at the Stadio Olimpico if scans confirm he hasn’t suffered a broken cheekbone. Both players were injured during the tournament’s opening game in Paris, which saw Wales extend its losing streak to four matches. This marked the first time the Welsh Rugby Union team lost a European Championship match.
But Watkin will be a major absentee. The Ospreys center was left with a suspected anterior cruciate ligament injury, which would rule him out for the rest of the season. He was hurt in the fourth minute of the match and had to be taken off on a stretcher.
Forwards coach John Humphreys did not give a timeframe on the injury, only saying that Watkin will be out of the game in Rome. He added, “We’re hoping for the best, but it looks like he won’t be fit for us.”
Wainwright was also taken off on a stretcher in the seventh minute after sustaining a blow to the face. He was left with a bloody nose and looked in severe pain as he was carried off the pitch. He could also be doubtful about the trip to England on Saturday as he awaits the results of a facial scan.
A reshuffle in the backline is expected to be forced by the injuries to both Ospreys stars, with Ben Thomas moving across to inside center and Dan Edwards making his debut as fly-half. Tommy Reffell is again available after returning from a groin problem, while Scarlets lock Taine Plumtree, another option for Gatland to consider.
But there is still a concern over number eight Taulupe Faletau, who also faces a fitness test on the knee injury that ruled him out of the France game. The Cardiff man was withdrawn from the squad for France in a bid to speed up his recovery, but he missed out on a warm-up session at Wales’ Cote d’Azur base on Saturday.