RWC 2015: Incredible World Cup injury list not down to big hits, says Wales legend Shane Williams

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “I was written off and just used that as motivation.” While players from O’Connell to South Africa’s inside centre Jean de Villiers have been forced out of the World Cup, Williams believes there has been at least one positive amid all the injuries. Now we need to focus on knees, ankles and other injuries.” Injury has become the watchword for Wales at virtually every turn of the tournament, from Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Webb dropping out on the eve of the World Cup to a recurrence of Liam Williams’ previous foot injury in the Australia game on Sunday meaning he will no longer play a part in the tournament. “This will bring the players closer together and the fact Warren Gatland has brought in a player in Eli Walker who isn’t fit for selection until the semi-finals shows there’s still a lot of confidence in the camp.” South Africa, by contrast, have a fully fit squad for Saturday’s quarter-final at Twickenham but Wales go into the game with the experience of beating the Springboks, having done so last November. “But if they were to do it and make it to the World Cup final with the injuries they’ve had, it’ll be the stuff of fairy tales, like a Hollywood movie.” To Williams’ mind, their progress from the “pool of death” featuring also England and Australia is down to the Warren Gatland effect, which has merited two Grand Slams during his time in charge and also a successful tour as coach of the British & Irish Lions in Australia in 2013.