South Africa v Wales: How can Gatland's Grand Slam heroes tame the world champs with only half a team?

Wales suffered a massive blow for their upcoming South African tour when the ageless Martyn Williams twisted his knee in a collision during the Cardiff Blues match at Connacht. The early signs were not positive and Blues coach Dai Young reckons the mercurial flanker is likely to be out of rugby for at least six weeks.

Th injury could well mean Williams missing the summer tour - and this after coach Warren Gatland told him he is a crucial piece in the Welsh tilt at the World Cup in New Zealand in 2011. Injuries will not add to Williams thinking positively of another four years of top-level rugby.

This is a further blow to the Six Nations champions following the recent withdrawal of Ospreys full-back Lee Byrne from the June tour. He requires surgery on a knee problem and joins Mike Phillips and Alix Popham on the sick list. Gavin Henson, arguably his country's most influential player apart from Williams, has been ruled out for 12 weeks and effectively the remainder of the calendar year after undergoing keyhole surgery for a twisted ankle.

To compound matters further, both Dwayne Peel and Shane Williams have injury clouds hanging over them, and their withdrawal would effectively rule out half of the brilliant Grand Slam winning team.