Wales began their World Cup campaign with a 54-9 win over Uruguay in Cardiff - but the bonus-point victory came at a serious cost ahead of their Group A showdown with England at Twickenham next weekend.

Having lost key men Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Webb to serious injuries before the start of the tournament, as well as wing Eli Walker, Wales suffered more problems on that particular front.

Full-back Liam Williams (dead leg) and prop Paul James (ankle) both limped off before the break while centre Cory Allen - who scored three of Wales' eight tries - had to be worryingly helped off by medical staff with a leg injury. Returning prop Samson Lee was also substituted at half time and was seen being treated with his sock rolled down.

Wales showed their attacking intent from the off but it was Uruguay who won the first penalty of the contest and Felipe Berchesi gave the World Cup's solitary amateur team a second-minute lead from 30 metres.

Berchesi was soon handed another opportunity, albeit from his own half, and though the kick fell well short Wales were struggling to make an early impression.

Uruguay were on the front foot again when Berchesi's clever chip caught Wales napping and centre Joaquin Prada and scrum-half Agustin Ormaechea were prominent in an attack which ended in another penalty for the visitors.

Wales won a penalty but chose to go for the corner rather than kick at goal and they rumbled towards the Uruguay line only to be held up just short.

But Uruguay's defence could not hold firm a second time after Wales won a line-out and the forwards took it over, Lee at the bottom of the maul to claim his first international try.

Priestland converted to give Wales the lead 14 minutes in and the second try was not long coming as Cory Allen caught the outside-half's chip and beat Silva's covering tackle to score under the posts for a 14-6 advantage.

Uruguay were proving resilient opponents and a far cry from a side which had shipped 70 points during two Test defeats to Japan in August as Wales attempted to discover some rhythm.

They eventually did so near the half-hour mark as Wales won clean line-out ball and Priestland and Scott Williams worked the space for Allen to coast home for his second try.

Priestland converted and Wales were in a relative comfort zone at 21-9 ahead but loose-head prop Paul James soon limped off to be replaced by Aaron Jarvis.

Wales' best move of the half ended with Tipuric displaying some lovely handling skills near the touchline and Amos' pass put Allen over.

Allen became the fifth Welshman to score a World Cup hat-trick but more importantly it gave Wales the bonus point they required from the game.

There should have been a fifth Wales try when Tipuric broke off the back of a ruck and stretched for the line but the ball was dislodged from his grasp by Uruguay wing Santiago Gibernau.

But Wales only had to wait another minute to cross the whitewash again as Davies broke through some wafer-thin Uruguayan tackling and fed Amos for his first Test try.

Priestland converted for a 35-9 lead but the Welsh injuries were piling up almost as quickly as the points. Allen was left banging the ground in frustration and had to be helped from the pitch by Wales' medical staff after appearing to have damaged his hamstring.

Davies took Wales to the 40-point mark when he cashed in on some good work by his forwards - but Priestland missed the conversion.

An infringement denied replacement Lloyd Williams a try following a length-of-the-field move and Uruguay were in no mood to see a half-century of points racked up against them.

When Wales threatened again in the Uruguayan 22 the visitors' prop Alejo Corral stole the ball and gained breathing space down the touchline.

But the Uruguayan forwards were tiring and the Wales pack were not to be denied again with Tipuric touching down under a pile of bodies and Priestland adding the extras.

Wales were determined not to take their foot off the pedal with points difference possibly counting in the so-called 'Pool of Death', which also features Australia, England and Fiji.

They got their reward in the final minute when Wales' forward dominance again told close to the Uruguayan line.

Uruguay went back at a rate of knots and Davies dived off for Wales' eighth try, and his second, with Priestland adding his seventh conversion.