Injuries again proving Wales' biggest obstacle as Jonathan Davies could be set for lengthy spell out

Warren Gatland insisted Wales could win the 2019 World Cup - but not on this performance

Davies could be ruled out of the autumn internationals (Getty)

Warren Gatland indicated after Wales’ latest defeat to Australia he would almost certainly make changes to his starting line-up to face Georgia next weekend. He may have no choice.

With pivotal centre Jonathan Davies leaving the field on a stretcher near the end of his team’s 29-21 defeat to Michael Cheika’s resurgent Wallabies, Gatland’s nightmare scenario of his already injury depleted squad suffering further trauma at the start of the Under Armour Series came true on Saturday.

Wales were very good, at times. The experiment of playing Gloucester fly half Owen Williams at inside centre worked very well while veteran skipper Alun Wyn Jones was as good as he always is.

But the injury to Davies looks serious and adds to an already lengthy casualty list which is in danger of derailing Wales’ autumn almost before it has begun.

At the best of times, Wales don’t have the depth of playing resources Eddie Jones can call on with England. The population numbers simply don’t stack up.

But, regardless of the playing pool, few teams in the world could shrug off losing players of the calibre of Sam Warburton (neck), Justin Tipuric (thigh), George North (knee) and Rhys Webb (knee). Add Davies to the mix, which now seems inevitable, and you are starting to approach critical mass. Wales are expected to make an announcement on Davies’ fitness on Monday.

Gatland will not panic, of course. Despite his side’s mounting injury concerns, they remain firm favourites to beat tier two outfit Georgia in the second match of the Under Armour series. Georgia recorded an impressive 54-22 defeat of Canada in Tiblisi which saw winger Soso Matiashvili score 34 points including a sensational individual try when his wonderfully athletic full-stretched dive enabled him to touch down a kick ahead when the ball seemed destined to run through the dead ball area.

Davies twisted his ankle at the end of the game (Getty)

Milton Haig’s team may not yet possess the finesse of some tier one teams but they are sure to offer one of the sternest physical tests provided by any international side on the planet.

A week later, and the All Blacks are in town. The physicality is only going to go one way and, perhaps most worryingly for Gatland, Wales injuries are happening to key men. In a side where resources are thin on the ground, the star players inevitably carry the heaviest burden.

“Georgia have some big guys in there and are a physical team,” said Wales lock Josh Ball, who impressed alongside Jones in Wales second row. “We’ll get excited about that. That’s when sides are a bit dangerous when you don’t know a lot about them so we are going to have to be at our best.”

It was by no means all doom and gloom for Wales on Saturday, despite losing for the 13th successive time to Michael Cheika’s Wallabies.

Williams’ performance at No12 was hugely encouraging as he provided unexpected defensive ballast alongside Dan Biggar at No10 and recovered well from a couple of ill directed early passes to distribute effectively and without fuss.

Biggar too was effective – although we could all do without the tantrums which sporadically pockmark his performances – while young Scarlets winger Steff Evans was excellent with ball in hand, if not in defence.

Wales’ inexperienced back row was highly effective while the Wallabies - who referee Glen Jackson penalised 15 times compared to just three penalties awarded against the Welsh - were forced into persistent infringements to slow down a potential second-half fightback from the home side.

That fightback was brought to a juddering halt by the excellent Kurtley Beale when he robbed Evans of the ball in a tackle and sped over from 50 metres to score.

Wales face Georgia next before New Zealand and South Africa come to the Principality Stadium (Getty)

The slightest of knock ons was missed by the Television Match Official and Beale’s try was allowed to stand, leaving Wales with a mountain to climb to force their way back into contention.

“It’s one of those things — pot luck and it’s gone their way,” said Evans. “It was my inaccuracy that cost it. So it was my fault there.”

Beale left Wales with a mountain to climb at 29-16 with 17 minutes left and they were deservedly beaten, despite replacement Hallam Amos’ late consolation try.

Ultimately, Gatland’s men will need to be sharper, calmer and more precise if they are to stand a chance of claiming the scalp of New Zealand or South Africa further down the track.

A win over Georgia is by no means a given, although a defeat would be among the most catastrophic in this proud rugby nation’s history, while South Africa were shocking in defeat to Ireland on Saturday.

But three wins from three was a minimum requirement for Wales fans this autumn after Gatland insisted last week Wales had the squad to win the 2019 World Cup.

On this evidence, they do not. And Davies’ expected absence with a serious ankle injury will only make matters worse.