Devastating injury prognosis for Jonathan Davies, but at least Rhys Patchell should be back sooner

Wales’ Six Nations title defence has been dealt a huge early blow as Jonathan Davies will miss the entire championship through injury. 

An ever-present during the 2019 Grand Slam success under Warren Gatland, the Scarlets centre will now miss Wayne Pivac’s first campaign in charge as Wales' new boss.

In a media statement released on Tuesday morning by Scarlets, it was reported that Davies faces surgery following an injury sustained at the recent World Cup where Wales finished in fourth place after semi-final defeat to South Africa was followed by the loss to New Zealand in the third-place play-off. 

‘Jonathan Davies faces at least six months recovering from knee surgery,’ ready the Scarlets release, a prognosis that leaves him doubtful to play any part in his club’s season, never mind help out his former boss Pivac as he switches from regional to Test level coaching.  

Confirmation of Davies’ lengthy lay-off was accompanied by further bad injury news concerning Rhys Patchell. 

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He too is facing surgery and while the lay-off isn’t as considerable as it is for Davies, he still won’t be available for the early stages of Six Nations which opens at home to Italy on February 1 and is followed a week later by the visit to Ireland. 

“Rhys Patchell is expected to return to play between 12-16 weeks following a shoulder injury,” read the Scarlets statement.

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