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Davies injury sparks Wales recall for Roberts

Cardiff - Jonathan Davies could miss the rest of Wales' end-of-year Test campaign after longtime midfield colleague Jamie Roberts was recalled to the squad on Monday as cover for the injured centre.

A clearly hurt Davies left the field late on with an ankle injury during Wales' 29-21 defeat by Australia in Cardiff on Saturday.

This week's match against Georgia is likely to see Wales coach Warren Gatland make several changes in any event, but the worry for the Welsh is that a week's break may not be long enough for Davies to regain fitness ahead of the showpiece matches at Cardiff's Principality Stadium against world champions New Zealand on November 25 and South Africa the following weekend.

The 65-time capped Davies was one of the stars of the British and Irish Lions 1-1 series draw in New Zealand earlier this year.

Fellow Lions centre Roberts, a veteran of 93 Tests for Wales, was left out of Gatland's original 36-man squad for the end of year campaign, with the New Zealander opting for a two-playmaker system in midfield against Australia rather than a flyhalf allied to crash ball specialists Roberts and Davies.

"We are still waiting on Jonathan," said Wales assistant coach Neil Jenkins on Monday.

"It doesn't look great.

"We are not sure yet in terms of the full outcome, but he is going to struggle probably for the rest of this autumn. I am not saying he is out. We just need to see where he is at and consult with the doctors and the physios a bit later.

"He is a world-class rugby player, there is no doubting that," added Jenkins.

Roberts, now at London club Harlequins, was summoned into the Wales camp on Monday along with Cardiff Blues prop Scott Andrews, on loan at English side Bath.

"Jamie Roberts and Scott Andrews have been called into the Wales squad as injury cover and arrived in camp this morning as the squad reconvened ahead of the game against Georgia on Saturday," said a Welsh Rugby Union statement.

"Further injury update will be made in due course following medical assessments."

Andrews was called up by Gatland as front rower Samson Lee continues his recovery from an Achilles problem.

Wales know they will be without prop Tomas Francis for the South Africa match as it falls outside World Rugby's designated international window.

That means the forward's club, English Premiership side Exeter, are not obliged to release Francis for Test duty as would otherwise be the case.

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