Leigh Halfpenny ruled out of Ireland game as Wales injury jinx strikes again

Wales assistant coach Jonathan Humphreys has expressed sympathy for Leigh Halfpenny after the full-back's injury jinx struck again.

Halfpenny was due to win his 98th cap and make a first Wales start for 19 months in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener against Ireland at the Principality Stadium.

But the 34-year-old has been ruled out after suffering a back spasm and will be replaced by Cardiff’s Liam Williams.

Halfpenny has not started for Wales since he suffered a serious knee injury playing against Canada in July 2021.

He was due to feature against New Zealand during this season’s Autumn Nations Series but withdrew 24 hours before kick-off because of a hamstring problem. A back spasm then meant he missed Wales’ appointment with Australia in Cardiff three weeks later.

"I think it’s more disappointing for Leigh as a person," said Humphreys. "He is an unbelievable professional and an unbelievable person.

"He has got to pick himself up again. You feel for him that he’s got to pull out at this late stage."

Williams missed Wales’ entire autumn campaign because of injury and has not started for his country since last summer’s South Africa tour. He has only played 180 minutes of rugby this season.

But with 81 Wales caps under his belt and five British and Irish Lions Test match appearances, Williams' quality is unquestioned.

Wales, with Warren Gatland back at the helm, will go for a fifth successive Six Nations home win against Ireland.

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But they must also somehow find a way of stopping a team