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Warren Gatland has revealed Samson Lee is only 50-50 for the World Cup after confirming the Scarlets prop ruptured his Achilles tendon against Ireland.

But Gatland ruled out calling up Adam Jones unless the Cardiff Blues prop reconsiders his decision to retire from international rugby.

Lee saw a specialist in London yesterday after suffering the injury in the 12th minute of the 23-16 victory over Ireland. Gatland revealed an operation has been delayed until next week because of the swelling.

“It’s going to be long-term. It could potentially keep him out of the World Cup," said Gatland.

“Speaking to the medics, he is having an operation. We are confident he can have enough time to get back and be available for the World Cup.

“His chances (of making the World Cup) are 50-50 I think.

“That’s a six month injury. He was going to be operated on yesterday, but he’s got too much swelling, so they are waiting until next week, which unfortunately puts him back a week.

Video: Warren Gatland on Samson Lee

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“We have the two warm-up games against Ireland, home and away, and then we have got Italy after the World Cup squad is announced. So look if he is up and running and in contention and things go well he won’t be far away. Whether we take the risk in naming him without too much rugby, that is potentially a possibility.

“Really it’s just down to the medics.

“For everyone with that sort of injury, it can be two or three weeks either side. He might be lucky and rehabs and recovers well and gets another two or three weeks or he might be slow and he misses out.

“I think he is a 50-50 chance at this stage.

“He is going to be operated on next week.

“It’s a full rupture, which is sometimes is a little better than a tear that rehabs and takes a lot of time. At least we know what it is and hopefully we can get it right and we can see him back on the field as quickly as possible.”

Aaron Jarvis will start against Italy on Saturday with Scott Andrews on the bench, while young Exeter prop Tomas Francis is also in the squad.

On the prospect of trying to lure Adam Jones out of retirement, Gatland added: “If Adam wasn’t retired from international rugby, then he may very well be in the squad now.

“But as far as we are concerned he has retired, so until he makes a different decision on that then, for us we haven’t even discussed Adam Jones because he is not in contention."