Dewey Lake and George North: Ospreys duo give Wales fresh injury worries

Ospreys pair George North and Dewey Lake are facing injury concerns less than two weeks before Wales’ autumn series against New Zealand kicks off in Cardiff.

North pulled out late due to a knee problem, while hooker Lake suffered a potentially serious shoulder injury.

Scrum-half Rhys Webb also failed to pass a head injury assessment during the game.

Wales coach Wayne Pivac already has three problems: Liam Williams has been ruled out of the autumn tests and Josh Adams is doubtful with a wrist injury.

Of the Ospreys’ three injuries in Newport, Lake’s injury is the most worrying after damaging his AC joint.

He came off in the 16th minute of Sunday’s Welsh derby, in which he was up against Bradley Roberts, who Lake had picked up front Compiled by Wayne Pivatz. Roberts scored the try as the Dragons won.

Ospreys head coach Toby Booth said: “It doesn’t look great. We’ll see how it goes. He’s tough as far as we know, but it looks like an AC problem for him.”

North scored after 40 seconds in Newport and looked a constant threat with his pace and power.

Booth said: “Hopefully it’s not too serious, but as the competition went on, [his knee] hardened and he became immobile so we had to change him.

“George, by his standards, is getting better every week the more we put him out there. He’s starting to get into top form, which is great. Hopefully it’s not too bad for him. I’m sure he’ll be fit.”

The knock on the North will also be a major challenge for Pivak so close to the opening game against the All Blacks on November 5 before the next internationals against Argentina, Georgia and Australia.

The drinker is also out with Scarlets center Jonny Williams at the start of the campaign and Cardiff winger Owen Lane.

North Ospreys winger Alex Cuthbert has been included in the Wales squad despite not yet featuring this season.

Webb – who remains out of Pivaz’s plans – was also substituted after not making the grade at half-time against the Dragons.

Protocols mean he will need to rest for at least a week before further evaluation.