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Wilkinson Tackle Was Ok - Thomas

Fri 08 Feb, 12:43 AM


Jonathan Thomas insists he has no problem with Jonny Wilkinson's short-arm tackle which knocked out the Welsh flanker and ended his contribution to the England-Wales clash at Twickenham last weekend after just 12 minutes.

In the immediate aftermath of Wales's 26-19 victory Wilkinson had been in danger of being cited for the challenge which saw 25-year-old Thomas have to be helped off the pitch.

But Wilkinson escaped a citing and as far as he is concerned Thomas says the tackle was fair.

"I've seen it back (on TV). I've got nothing against the tackle," said 40-times capped Thomas, who has been declared fit to start in Wales's second Six Nations clash against Scotland on Saturday.

"A lot has been made of whether he was going to be cited but I've got no hard feelings towards Wilkinson whatsoever. I think it was a fairly legitimate tackle. It was just an unfortunate situation where I was quite low, where I got caught on the chin and I'm certainly not going to complain about things like that.

"I've done things in the past where I have possibly high-tackled people so you can't expect to have double standards and moan about things when it happens to you."

Thomas added: "I haven't got a great memory of the actual incident. I remember the 12 minutes leading up to it.

"I was a bit groggy when it happened but 15-20 minutes afterwards I was fine and I've had a lot of tests and everything is fine.

"I had a brain scan on Sunday and did some cognitive tests, involving memory recall and some mathematics tests. I passed that and everything's okay.

"I just remember being groggy and I managed to get to my feet and walked off the pitch.

"I wasn't helped that my head hit Toby Flood's knee, then my head hits the floor and a then there was a ruck on top of me!

"I have had incidents like that before when I have been dazed but I have never come off the field before.

"It did cross my mind that I might be ruled out for the Scotland game, but because I came too so quickly afterwards I was pretty positive that I would be able to make myself available for this week."

A few years ago Thomas would have had to sit out the following three weeks because of concussion but the International Rugby Board regulations have changed to allow players to play as long as they pass a series of neurological tests.

"The process I went through was very thorough," said Thomas. ''there was a lot of medical back-up to prove I'm 100 % fit. I'm just glad the three-week rule for concussion isn't there anymore.

"I feel good and ready to go for the weekend.

"I was extremely pleased for the boys that they finished the job. It was a great achievement for the squad and the management.

"I can't say I took a big part in the game, but you could say I'm fresh considering what the rest of the boys went through (at Twickenham).

"I'm really looking forward to the game and just grateful I've got another crack at the weekend."

Thomas says the new Wales coaching team of Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards are giving the Welsh squad a greater self-belief.

"Warren and Shaun have tried to instil some of that self-belief and provided us with that winning mentality they have had with previous teams.

"I've seen how effective they have been as coaches in the last couple of weeks and I'd like to think that the environment will provide for a winning team.

"It's going to be a tough game against Scotland and they are a going to be a dangerous animal because they lost. But we have got to worry about ourselves and it's about what we can control and putting in a good performance.

"We've gained a lot of confidence from the weekend but there is a lot to work on as well. We are not going to be blasé about last weekend and think we are the perfect side.

"Scotland are a good side and they will be determined to show they are better than what they showed against France."

Teams

Wales: L Byrne (Ospreys); J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), G Henson (Ospreys), S Williams (Ospreys); J Hook (Ospreys), M Phillips (Ospreys); Duncan Jones (Ospreys), H Bennett (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys), I Gough (Ospreys), I Evans (Ospreys), J Thomas (Ospreys), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, capt).

Replacements: M Rees (Llanelli Scarlets), G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Deniol Jones (Cardiff Blues), G Delve (Gloucester), D Peel (Llanelli Scarlets), S Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), S Parker (Ospreys).

Scotland: C Paterson (Gloucester); N Walker (Ospreys), N De Luca (Edinburgh), A Henderson (Glasgow Warriors), S Webster (Edinburgh); D Parks (Glasgow Warriors), M Blair (Edinburgh); A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Ford (Edinburgh), E Murray (Northampton Saints), N Hines (Perpignan), J Hamilton (Leicester Tigers), J White (Sale Sharks, captain), J Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), K Brown (Glasgow Warriors).

Replacements: F Thomson (Glasgow Warriors), G Kerr (Edinburgh), S MacLeod (Llanelli Scarlets), A Hogg (Edinburgh), C Cusiter (Perpignan), G Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), H Southwell (Edinburgh).

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