Leigh Halfpenny out of Rugby World Cup for Wales after serious knee injury against Italy

AUSTRALIA’S Rugby World Cup pool rival Wales has suffered a massive blow, with star fullback and goalkicker Leigh Halfpenny to miss the tournament.

Wales' Leigh Halfpenny leaves the field on a stretcher after getting injured during the rugby union World Cup warm up match at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales Saturday Sept. 5, 2015. (Joe Giddens/PA Wire via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT, NO SALES, NO ARCHIVE

AUSTRALIA’S chances of progressing from the group of death have been boosted with Welsh fullback and star Leigh Halfpenny ruled out of the Rugby World Cup.

Halfpenny tore right knee ligaments in a warm-up match against Italy and is expected to be out of action for at least six months.

The Toulon star, who is one of the outstanding goalkickers of his generation, sustained the injury in Wales’ hard-fought 23-19 win over the Azzurri at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on Sunday (AEST).

“Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny has suffered an ACL injury, ruling him out of the forthcoming Rugby World Cup,” a Welsh Rugby Union statement said.

Leigh Halfpenny of Wales is stretchered off the field after suffering a knee injury.

“Leigh will undergo further examination and assessment before further details are announced.” Wales kick off their World Cup campaign against Uruguay on September 20, going on to play hosts England, Fiji and two-time champions Australia in the toughest of the four pools.

The line-up means at least one of rugby union’s major nations won’t qualify for the quarter-finals as only the top two teams go through to the last eight.

Aside from Halfpenny, Wales could face more bad news, with in-form scrum-half Rhys Webb also injured against the Italians.

Leigh Halfpenny will be a massive RWC loss for Wales.

Webb suffered suspected serious ligament damage to his ankle in the first half after falling awkwardly at a ruck.

It would be a further cruel blow for Wales coach Warren Gatland, who already lost key centre Jonathan Davies at the start of the summer.

Halfpenny’s understudy Liam Williams is only himself coming back from a broken bone in his foot.

Gatland will now look to call up a replacement for Halfpenny, likely to come down between New Zealand-born utility back Gareth Anscombe, who is also currently out for up to three weeks with an ankle ligament injury, and James Hook.

Both are proven kickers.

Mike Phillips is the natural choice to replace Webb, particularly given the lack of experience between remaining scrum-halves Gareth Davies and Lloyd Williams.

Originally published as Leigh Halfpenny out of Rugby World Cup for Wales after serious knee injury against Italy