Wales 23-19 Italy: Rhys Webb and Leigh Halfpenny risk missing World Cup after nightmare warm-up for Warren Gatland

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With Wales ravaged by injuries, scrum half Rhys Webb injured his left ankle in the first half and left the pitch on a stretcher
Leigh Halfpenny injured his right knee with ten minutes to go and also departed on a stretcher
A misfiring Welsh side were only able to beat the Azzurri outsiders by an unconvincing four-point margin

Published: 13:57 EST, 5 September 2015 | Updated: 17:10 EST, 5 September 2015

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The grim reaper of the Group of Death showed his face in Cardiff last night as Wales endured a horror show against Italy and suffered injuries to Rhys Webb and Leigh Halfpenny.

With Warren Gatland already suffering from squad medical problems, preparations for Pool A took a turn for the disastrous as Webb and Halfpenny were both linked up to oxygen supplies and removed from the field by stretcher.

A nation will hold its breath over the fitness of two of their most important players – who could be replaced by Mike Phillips and Gareth Anscombe or James Hook – as they await the result of hospital tests that will determine their World Cup fate.

Rhys Webb went down in the first half after suffering a suspected broken left ankle

The influential scrum half left the pitch on a stretcher and is a doubt for the upcoming World Cup

‘Rhys has been scanned and Leigh will be scanned on Sunday or Monday,’ said Gatland. ‘It’s not great, is it? If they are ruled out, it’s a massive blow for them and it’s disappointing for us. We get the results back in the next 24 or 48 hours.'

The misery was not just compounded to injuries. Italy lost 48-7 to Scotland last week, but a misfiring Welsh side were only able to beat the Azzurri by an unconvincing four-point margin. After last weekend’s victory over Ireland, Wales looked to be simmering slowly like a fiery Welsh broth – but last night’s display threw in an unwanted ingredient to preparations.

‘We’ve gone from having 43 minutes of ball in play last week to 26 minutes this week,’ said Gatland. ‘We spoke in the changing rooms afterwards and some players have to take a close look at their performance. People know that when we turn up at Twickenham fully loaded, we will be a different proposition.’

Questions have been asked about Alex Cuthbert’s recent form and the winger was outwitted by Italian maestro Sergio Parisse, who intercepted his ill-thought pass and cantered 75 metres downfield. Scott Williams hauled down the No 8 just short but Leonardo Sarto capitalised on the recycled ball to score after just two minutes.

Whistles from the Cardiff crowd did enough to put off Tommaso Allen with his conversion, but the fly-half nailed his first penalty when the Welsh defence breached the offside line moments later. The outsiders, suddenly, were 8-0 up and it was not until the hour mark when Wales finally took the lead.

The hosts were rattled. Their gunpowder had been left in Dublin. A brief glimpse of their offloading game allowed Scott Williams and Webb to make yards, but it was nothing to strike fear into England and Australia’s thoughts.

Leigh Halfpenny suffered an injury to his right knee in the 70th minute and needed oxygen treatment

The metronomic Halfpenny suffered the injury

Gatland suggested last week that it would be nice to be arrive ‘under the radar’ and their disastrous evening will at least help with that. Williams showed his attacking edge with a fine 20-metre pass to send over George North in the 12th minute.

Parisse again came out on top in a duel with Cuthbert, who left the field with a blood injury following an accidental elbow to the face. To the excitement of the crowd he was replaced by Shane Williams-like Matthew Morgan who, at 5ft 8in and 11st 7lb, will test the age-old theory that rugby is a sport for all sizes when he is let loose at the World Cup.

But not even Morgan could inspire the troops. With Cuthbert still receiving treatment, Webb’s left leg buckled under pressure at a breakdown and his cries of agony could be heard over the referee’s microphone. Surrounded by seven Welsh medical staff, he received six minutes of treatment before he was wheeled off on a stretcher.

It left a numb feeling around the Millennium Stadium, with Halfpenny’s penalty a minute later going almost unnoticed. Italian favourite Martin Castrogiovanni had the better of Gethin Jenkins at the scrum and Cuthbert knocked on just before the break.

Warren Gatland scowls during a disastrous defeat to Italy which saw the loss of two of Wales' starters

Shaun Edwards had talked about Wales peaking at the World Cup but, on this evidence, they are well off the boil. Halfpenny drew matters level with his metronomic boot in the 49th minute and kicked Wales ahead in the 62nd minute.

Carlo Canna responded with a drop goal before Halfpenny kicked his fifth. But then the full-back, who was named Lions player of the Series in 2013, was the subject of more Welsh misery.

He changed direction on the run and his right knee buckled. Medical staff intervened and, as was the case with Webb, he was carted off. Dan Biggar took over kicking duties and edged Wales further ahead, but scrum-half Guglielmo Palazzani compounded a miserable night for the hosts with a last-gasp try.