Six Nations - Wales confirm loss of key duo
Wales will be without prop Gethin Jenkins and fly-half Rhys Priestland for the start of the RBS 6 Nations.
Both players are suffering from knee injuries and will miss the opener against Ireland on Sunday week, while Jenkins may be sidelined for up to five weeks.
"Gethin is struggling and could be out for four to five weeks," said coach Warren Gatland at the Six Nations launch in London. "Rhys will be struggling for the first game. We're assessing him day by day."
Flanker Dan Lydiate is a doubt for the trip to Lansdowne Road because of an ankle problem, but the prognosis over centre Jamie Roberts' knee injury is more positive.
"Dan Lydiate is touch and go. We're hoping Jamie Roberts will be OK," said Gatland.
Gatland admitted the loss of Lions front row Jenkins and Priestland, who emerged as one of the stars of last year's World Cup, will be keenly felt.
"Gethin is a huge loss for us for potentially the first two games of the tournament," he said. "He's been playing exceptionally well for the Blues in the last month.
"He's a world class player. He's got a very good rugby brain and is able to asses things on the field. He's almost like a coach on the field. You get a lot of information from him at half-time, what's going right or wrong, tactically where we need to change.
"Rhys was probably the find, if not the best, fly-half at the World Cup. He really does fit the type of game we want to play. His kicking game and vision are excellent. He stretches opposition defences as well because he's not afraid to run.
"There's a very good balance to his game. You can't underestimate the space he created for our midfield at the World Cup. He was one of the reasons we saw some really big performances from Jamie Roberts, Jon Davies and Scott Williams. He will be a big loss for us."
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Wowww!!! haven't been on these forums for a while but I see Pink Pig, Richardcollins, david Peter, Peter C.Edward Wa;ters etc etc (all the same person!!) now has another alias...Anne,or if she/he really IS another person then probably another inbreed from Exeter hahahahaha. Anyway, Anne or whoever you are...(could be another shemale I suppose LMFAO!!!!) who is Howard c??? hahahaha. don't you worrry dear, Wales will be fine, so much strength in depth these days, the best defence in the world, and certain to be Grand Slam Champions with England 0 from 5 and wooden spoonists.yayyyyyyy.loving life!!!
How about Leigh Halfpenny at number 10
Just popped on to wind up the taffs namely howard c and that c.unt terry but it seems that lobsters doing a fine job. carry on old chap
Wales now have a squad to cope with injuries, James Hook will be fine as back up and would walk into most teams, the front row will be stronger in the scrumage and we will beat Ireland by 10/12 points, stuff the Scotts & the English, hammer the Italians then big time pay back for the French in Cardiff. Am i Welsh !! may be !
Oh come on BigDick! Thats quite a claim. Dan Cole? Mat Stevens? Joe Marler? Alex Corbisiero? And that's just England's offering. 6 Nations front rows are as strong as ever.
However, let's wait to see if the welsh scrum engages reverse before we make further comment.
Greenstandard #1, We've got 5 loose heads (James, Bevington, Gill, Iestyn Thomas and Yapp) better than anything in the English, Irish or Scottish squads
qq more
Icantsplel. As you have brought it up it was never a sending off!!
Are people still banging on about that red card in the world cup, would you rather that kind of tackle was legal and there was a broken neck every other game..?
Big loss for Wales, without doubt the best prop in NH a dead cert for the Lions (again).
Matthew Morgan at Ospreys looks like a promising talent
Still got more talent than you Greenie! :)
Although Jenkins is the better player, I think Wales will be more affected by the loss of Priestland. He may not be as spectacular as other number 10's but he has consistently showed how to get the best out of the Welsh backs. Hook is too individualist in my opinion and when he plays at 10, he just doesn't seem to be on the same wavelength as the rest of the team. Jones is too old now and I wonder whether this is Henson's chance to shine. He too can be a bit selfish in his plays but I think his spell in the wilderness may just have brought a bit of humility to his game. We shall soon find out....
God i hope Gatland doesn't call up steven jones or Dan Biggar!!! Tovey deserves his chance as a back-up for Hook, Bigger is rubbish and has proved it many times, and Jones just gets even more limited the older he gets...........
Certainly a big loss for the Welsh who i'd have as the favourites for the 6N (provided Alain Rolland isn't refereeing any of their games), Jenkins is a world-class prop whilst Priestland is very quickly earning himself a well deserved reputation as a high-calibre 10. That said, all the other teams will be missing players from their normal starting line-up so this years championship may come down to which country can avoid the most injuries to key players.
Blimey Welshies!! Have you got anyone left?? Better start trawling the north welsh third div sides for stand-ins??
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