Grady faces injury scan after Fiji defeat

Monday, 11 November 2024 10:30

Mason Grady is facing a scan for an ankle injury following Wales' 24-19 defeat to Fiji in the Autumn Nations Series.

The Cardiff wing played just 17 minutes as Warren Gatland's men crashed to a tenth straight Test defeat - equalling a record set over twenty years ago.

The head coach confirmed afterwards that Grady's injury would be assessed for the extent of the damage ahead of next Sunday's clash with Australia.

Gatland also revealed there had been a blunder in his choice of replacements - as Sam Costelow switched from fly-half, when the head coach had intended to introduce scrum-half Ellis Bevan.

Costelow reverted back to his favoured position during the second half while Bevan went onto score a late try while out of position.

Gatland had opted for six forwards and eight backs on his replacements bench, but admitted post-match he would think again about that strategy.

But a more pressing future was Wales' future under the head coach, having gone over 400 days since their last Test victory and off the back of Fiji's first ever win in Cardiff.

Gatland's response was to attack the media: "You can write about that. The pressure comes from the media because that is a narrative that you create."

"We’ve said for the last 12 months since the World Cup, with the number of players and experience that we’ve lost, we were going to invest in a group of youngsters that we felt we could build with and take us on. We’ve seen development from those youngsters. We’ve said we need some patience and time."

"But I understand Test match rugby is about performing and winning. You [the media] control the narrative and write what you want. I’ll see what happens there."

Australia return to the Principality Stadium next Sunday, following their 42-37 win over Australia at Twickenham, followed by the visit of world champions South Africa on 23rd November.