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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Ben James

Wales suffer double injury blow for Argentina game but wingers back in training

Wales will be without Leigh Halfpenny and Tommy Reffell for this weekend's clash with Argentina.

Halfpenny was ruled out of last weekend's heavy defeat to New Zealand after aggravating a hamstring injury, while Reffell picked up a bump to his ribs in the 55-23 defeat to the All Blacks.

Defence coach Gethin Jenkins confirmed that neither would be in contention for the match against Argentina, who are heading into Saturday's fixture on a high after defeating England at Twickenham on Sunday.

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Wayne Pivac has been handed a boost though with the news that Alex Cuthbert and Josh Adams are both back in training. The potential return of Adams in particular is useful given Wales' lack of full-back options in the squad.

Gareth Anscombe wore the 15 jersey on Saturday, with Rhys Priestland stepping into the fly-half role. But it's likely Pivac would want to start with Anscombe at 10 moving forward, which could see Adams considered as a full-back.

"Leigh is not going to be available this week, and Tommy won't be available," Jenkins said.

"They are the only two, I think, at the moment that are fully ruled out for the weekend."

"They're (Cuthbert and Adams) back training today. They're back involved with stuff. Well, Alex trained last week but it was his first week for a long time so that's the reason he wasn't involved. We needed to ease him back into it."

The injury to Reffell paves the way for captain Justin Tipuric to return to openside, with Dan Lydiate or Christ Tshiunza the likely options on the blindside. Josh Macleod has also been namechecked as a back-row capable of playing six.

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