Six Nations - Jones back, Henson still out

Eurosport - Fri, 13 Feb 18:33:00 2009

Fit-again Ryan Jones has been recalled to lead Wales out against England in their Six Nations clash in Cardiff on Saturday, but star centre Gavin Henson is still sidelined.

Ryan Jones - Wales - 0

Henson is again unavailable due to a calf strain and misses his eighth consecutive Test for the defending Six Nations champions.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland also has injury worries over IRB world player of the year Shane Williams and in-form number eight Andy Powell.

Star wing Williams, who touched down against Scotland for his 45th try in 62 Tests, missed training on Thursday because of an ankle injury suffered at Murrayfield.

Powell pulled up in training with a tight calf muscle and Wales' fitness staff will give the injury time to settle before making a proper assessment.

Ryan Jones, who withdrew from the championship opener with Scotland at the 11th hour with a calf injury, replaces Dafydd Jones on the blindside as the only change to the team that won 26-13 at Murrayfield.

Daffyd Jones moves down to the bench and Ryan Jones takes over captain's duties from Martyn Williams, who stood in against the Scots.

Wales go into the Millennium Stadium clash as firm favourites to make it eight Six Nations victories in succession.

But after Gatland's side came from behind to beat World Cup finalists England at Twickenham year, the Kiwi is taking nothing from granted.

"The fixture is a bit of a reversal from last year, it just shows that a lot of things can change in 12 months," said Gatland.

"But there is also a lesson there in that we were not tipped to win at Twickenham but we did and it sparked our season.

"We will need to play better all around the park than we did last week if we are to beat England, they are a side with a vast amount of experience and they will respond well to having their backs to the wall.

"We have reached fourth place in the IRB World Rankings and our challenge now is to stay there and maintain consistency of performance."

In Henson's absence, Gatland continues with the impressive Jamie Roberts and Tom Shanklin in midfield.

Stephen Jones again starts at fly-half ahead of James Hook, while Mike Phillips keeps the number nine jersey from Dwayne Peel.

Wales: 15-Lee Byrne, 14-Leigh Halfpenny, 13-Tom Shanklin, 12-Jamie Roberts, 11-Shane Williams, 10-Stephen Jones, 9-Mike Phillips, 8-Andy Powell, 7-Martyn Williams, 6-Ryan Jones (capt), 5-Alun-Wyn Jones, 4-Ian Gough, 3-Adam Jones, 2-Matthew Rees, 1-Gethin Jenkins.

Replacements: 16-Huw Bennett, 17-John Yapp, 18-Luke Charteris, 19-Dafydd Jones, 20-Dwayne Peel, 21-James Hook, 22-Andrew Bishop

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport

Comment 54 - 73 of 73

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  1. my money is on ireland or france to win the six nations­ this year as they are both strong contenders and hav­ the ability and strength to change their game come time­ for a challenge, and as for the up comming world cup i­ think the all blacks will take it out hands down as­ they are currntly number 1 in the irb standings and­ have the home advantage, wales will never ever make a­ world cup final i think they hav peaked too soon and­ come time for their chance to be number 1 they will­ fizzle out severly

    From loose_un1t2009, on Sat 14 Feb 5:59PM

  2. With all due respect I think it's too early in the­ competition to be talking 'Grand Slams'. There­ are still three pretty good teams capable of doing­ that. Ireland should put a healthy score on the­ Italians. Wales have a tougher job tomorrow. If worsley­ can contain our back row England can compete, but­ he's got his work cut with Jones, Powell, and­ williams. I think the 6,7, and 8s will be interesting­ to watch.

    From pajulu, on Fri 13 Feb 10:45PM

  3. I REALLY THINK THIS IS IRELANDS YEAR FOR A GRAND­ SLAM..I THINK WALES WILL BE GOING FOR ONE TOO WHEN THE­ PAIR MEET IN CARDIFF ON THE LAST DAY...I think Ireland­ have the right balance this year with o driccol back at­ his best and the munster powerhouse forwards and the­ lively leinster backs all playing in their proper­ positions this year..its gona be a cracker in cardiff..

    From Tommy, on Fri 13 Feb 10:07PM

  4. sorry All blacks

    From laboca123, on Fri 13 Feb 9:41PM

  5. Browntom, I have a feeling that the all balcks will win­ the next one. I know its too early to say but its just­ a gut feeling.

    From laboca123, on Fri 13 Feb 9:35PM

  6. Celtic Warriors... :o)

    From Gez, on Fri 13 Feb 8:53PM

  7. I will be supporting you against the French,although I­ have always admired the way they play the game.­ Who's your club team?

    From laboca123, on Fri 13 Feb 8:46PM

  8. Good question: guess it has to be France, being as they­ are on their own turf. If we beat them, then we should­ have enough momentum to beat the Irish, but if we­ don't, we could lose that one, too.

    From Gez, on Fri 13 Feb 8:38PM

  9. Gez, I know you weren't being presumptious, I was­ just saying that because I guess you are favourites for­ the 6 nations. But as we all know anything can happen.­ Who do ya fear the most out France and Ireland?

    From laboca123, on Fri 13 Feb 8:26PM

  10. laboca: i wasnt being presumptious - what I meant was,­ Wales are the current Grand Slam champs. The question I­ was asked was: what are Wales' chances in the next­ world cup? Being as we havent beaten the All Blacks­ since 1953, then the answer remains: very slim­ (regardless of how much the Blacks tend to choke.)

    From Gez, on Fri 13 Feb 8:20PM

  11. The all blacks do have a habit of choking in world­ cups. But maybe they will get it right this time. You­ may not even win the grand slam yet, there is still­ France and Ireland to contend with guys.

    From laboca123, on Fri 13 Feb 8:02PM

  12. all blacks are not all their made out to be...when did­ they last win a world cup!!!!

    From browntom69, on Fri 13 Feb 7:59PM

  13. Being Grand Slam champs is one thing....beating the All­ Blacks is quite another. So: chances of winning the­ World Cup? Very slim...

    From Gez, on Fri 13 Feb 7:56PM

  14. If you win tomorrow it will be 53 wins apiece, thats­ pretty tight. What do ya think of wales chances in the­ next world cup? Have you peaked too soon?

    From laboca123, on Fri 13 Feb 7:54PM

  15. Boring old England spoiling tactics I guess, its the­ only way I can see us containing you. And too be honest­ I cant see us doing that, but being the underdogs is a­ good thing for us.

    From laboca123, on Fri 13 Feb 7:50PM

  16. If I were the English coach, my tactics would be to run­ for cover and ask for someone to come fetch me from my­ padded cell at the end of the game...

    From Gez, on Fri 13 Feb 7:18PM

  17. what ever happened to coming on here and having a bit­ of friendly banter with someone from the opposing­ country? Now all its down to is pure ignorance and­ racism. Dont you people have anything better to do? It­ has nothing to do with what country your from, but the­ quality of the teams and some good old fashioned fun!­ As a welshman though i do think Wales are the superior­ team for this match, but you never can write of England­ either, it should be a close and interesting game. Lets­ all hope for some entertaining rugby! and learn to get­ along!

    From TREVOR, on Fri 13 Feb 7:17PM

  18. It would be difficult as i would expect to be doing a­ lot of defending, Wales are very quick getting the ball­ back from the ruck, I think Wales will be too quick for­ England and England won't handle the pace of the­ Welsh game.
    We got bid mobile forwards, we got fast­ backs with an awesome full back.What tactics can you­ use?

    From Stuart D, on Fri 13 Feb 7:16PM

  19. Stuart if you were the England coach...now I know you­ wouldnt like to be, but if you were, what would be your­ tactics tomorrow?

    From laboca123, on Fri 13 Feb 6:55PM

  20. Your right brw1marine, I was out of line. sorry for­ saying that, I just got caught up with the slanging­ match thing. I have no excuses for saying that, there­ is nothing wrong with being welsh or any other­ nationality. I apologise

    From laboca123, on Fri 13 Feb 6:53PM
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