Injury woe for Wales duo

Wales could be without two key players for the remainder of their World Cup pool schedule.

Full-back James Hook and flanker Dan Lydiate both suffered injuries during the first half of Sunday's tense 17-10 victory over Samoa at Waikato Stadium.

Hook has a shoulder problem and Lydiate hurt his ankle, raising doubts over their availability for Pool D clashes against Namibia in New Plymouth next Monday and Fiji six days later.

The aim for Wales, though, would be to have both players fit and ready ahead of their potential quarter-final clash against Ireland in Wellington on October 8.

"I think it's a grade one or two injury that James has," Wales assistant coach Shaun Edwards said. "That usually means two or three weeks.

"Dan is still in a moon boot, but they put moon boots on everything these days. James is a bit easier to read because he's done his AC joint."

Edwards, meanwhile, hailed Wales' Herculean defensive effort after a second-half shut-out of Samoa kept them on course for the tournament's knockout phase.

Wales turned a four-point interval deficit into victory, with wing Shane Williams' 55th Test match try seeing them home.

"I gave the boys a target of 12 points (conceded) and Samoa got 10," defence specialist Edwards added.

"The boys showed massive character. This time last year we would have lost that game, but our conditioning came into it."