Shaun Edwards says Wales don't think they are taking a major gamble with World Cup squad

Wales assistant coach Shaun Edwards says they are confident that only naming two hookers in their World Cup squad does not constitute a major gamble, due to the fact injured players can be replaced.

Coach Warren Gatland named his 31-man squad for the upcoming tournament earlier this week and it contained only two hookers in the form of Scott Baldwin and Ken Owens.

Australia, who are alongside England and Wales in a very tough World Cup pool, have also named just two hookers.

But Sir Clive Woodward, who coached England to World Cup glory in 2003, is unimpressed and thinks there is the potential for uncontested scrums due to a lack of front-row cover.

Woodward wrote in the Daily Mail: "What is going on here is open to interpretation, but it is just so wrong. Every squad must have three specialist hookers.

"I look at Wales and Australia naming just two hookers and I wonder if they are being fair to their own players, let alone the opposition, and the paying public."

However, Edwards responded: "Sir Clive is a fantastic coach and he is more than willing to express his opinion.

"We can understand his opinion but Warren is confident that we can travel with two hookers and the Australian coaching staff must feel the same.

"Is it a gamble? Only time will tell. But you can replace players and the big advantage is that the World Cup is in the British Isles.

"And, while there is a 72-hour replacement schedule in place if someone gets injured, it's not like flying them from the other side of the world. That definitely goes in our favour.

"It's two contrasting ways of looking at things. Sir Clive is a World Cup-winning coach, massive respect for him, and he is more than entitled to his opinion.

"We just have to answer that with our front-row performances on the pitch."

Wales complete their World Cup warm-up matches on Saturday, when they play host to Italy.

And they will need to hit the ground running when the World Cup begins, considering the strength of their pool.

However, Wales have done very well under Gatland over the years and Edwards thinks the head coach is a master at preparing teams for the big occasion.

"Warren has had a great record over the years of peaking his teams at the right time and that's not being boastful, just a fact," he said.

While there is a 72-hour replacement schedule in place if someone gets injured, it's not like flying them from the other side of the world. That definitely goes in our favour.

"That has happened over his career and we are hoping he is going to do the same this time.

"There are no guarantees, obviously, but we are hoping that we peak at the right time.

"We do want momentum going into the World Cup. We are keeping fingers crossed with injuries - it would be a travesty to get someone injured so late - but you need match-practice, otherwise you are going to be undercooked going into what is a massive occasion.

"You have to be peaking in September or October. With a club team you can get off to a slow start and recover as the season goes on, but in this competition you can't."