Wales are confident that their third line Taulupe Faletau will be ready for the Rugby World Cup, even though he did not attend training camp in Turkey.
Faletau, who won a century of caps for the Welsh and played for the British and Irish Lions, is suffering from a calf injury but has been allowed to stay at home to continue his rehabilitation.
Forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys, however, is confident the 32-year-old eighth will make the World Cup squad.
“His rehabilitation is going well and we hope he will be available for the World Cup,” Humphreys said during a virtual press conference on Friday.
“He’s coming back, so the question was whether to bring him here to do things or whether he could do them at home and spend more time with his family. It was therefore decided that he could follow the same rehabilitation process in his country of origin. It’s a good thing for him.”
Faletau could miss all three of Wales’ preparation tests against England (twice) and South Africa. The first test against England will take place in Cardiff on August 5.
“Hopefully he’ll play, but I don’t think it’s something we’re going to dwell on very much if he’s not 100 per cent,” Humphreys added. If it’s not there, that doesn’t necessarily exclude it.