Wales flanker Dan Lydiate: 'We're still strong despite injuries'

Dan Lydiate has insisted that Wales are still "in a strong place" despite being hit by a number of injuries at the Rugby World Cup.

Coach Warren Gatland was dealt a double blow before the start of the tournament when key backs Rhys Webb and Leigh Halfpenny were ruled out of the tournament, and then on Saturday in their opening fixture against Uruguay, seven players went off injured.

Though some of those who had to go off might be fit for the showdown with hosts England on Saturday, Cory Allen, who scored a hat-trick of tries in the 54-9 victory at the Millennium Stadium, is out of the tournament and has been replaced in the squad by Tyler Morgan.

When asked about the amount of injuries to hit the squad, flanker Lydiate told reporters: "It's hard but we've just got to focus on the task in hand and there's no better opportunity to come up here and play England in their own back yard."

"We've had more injuries than we'd like but it is just the way it goes sometimes. There are boys to come in to fill those places and as a squad we're in a strong place. We've got a massive challenge this week and we've just got to focus on each day and each game as it comes."

Wales are currently top of Pool A thanks to their superior points difference over England.