Only a few Wales World Cup places still open

Wales coach Warren Gatland said Thursday he had already selected the bulk of his World Cup squad, with just a handful of places left open in a 31-man party where "25 or 26 players are nailed on".

Gatland's men face Ireland in Dublin on Saturday in their final warm-up match before the New Zealander names his World Cup squad on Monday.

This weekend will see Gatland fielding several first-choice players after Six Nations champions Ireland beat Wales 35-21 in Cardiff three weeks ago.

Sam Warburton, the regular Wales captain, has been ruled out with a shoulder knock that Gatland has labelled "nothing serious", but experienced lock Alun Wyn Jones leads a team that includes the likes of Taulupe Faletau, George North and Jamie Roberts.

Powerhouse wing North is set to win his 50th cap in Dublin in what will be his first appearance for five months after suffering three concussions last season.

Gatland will announce his 31-man World Cup squad in Cardiff on Monday.
"To be honest, there are probably 25 or 26 players that are nailed on, and then there is the rest of the squad - it's either/or and making the decision and just trying to get the balance right," Gatland said Thursday after naming his team to play Ireland.

"We haven't finalised whether it's going to be an 18-13 or a 17-14 split (between forwards and backs). We are probably leaning towards the 17-14 split at the moment, but things change.

"We will see how the weekend goes and how the performances go, and hopefully we won't pick up too many injuries," added Gatland, who oversaw Wales's run to the semi-finals of the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

"Given the history of World Cups, the players who do miss out are going to be incredibly unlucky, but they are going to be pretty valuable to us as well if there a couple of knocks and we need to call people in.

"When you are picking a World Cup squad, you have got to take your chances," the former Ireland coach explained.

"That is the reality of having to pick a squad and make hard decisions, particularly in 50-50 calls. So for a few players on Saturday, whether they are in the starting XV or the bench, their impact or their performances are pretty important."
Source: AFP