Six Nations - Wales sweat on fitness of injured trio
Assistant coach Rob Howley says Wales remain hopeful of having Rhys Priestland, Jamie Roberts and Dan Lydiate fit for Sunday's Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin.
Scarlets fly-half Priestland and Cardiff Blues centre Roberts are struggling with knee injuries, while Newport Gwent Dragons flanker Lydiate has an ankle problem.
All three played a part in last week's pre-tournament training camp in Gdansk, Poland, and Wales have delayed naming their side for the Aviva Stadium clash until Friday to give them the best chance of being involved.
But Howley says it will be their response to training over the next two days that will determine their availability.
He said: "Last week went well, obviously with Dan Lydiate and Rhys Priestland we are still waiting.
"In terms of their participation, it was very limited last week. Dan and Rhys probably did about two or three sessions but they were just limited to skills, the next 48 hours is pretty critical and we are waiting to see how they are.
"They have come in this morning and they are a little bit sore after the weekend's endeavours but we are obviously hopeful.
"Jamie participated a little bit more than Dan and Rhys but we are still uncertain.
"Jamie has not played for a long time, I think it's around five or six weeks, so we are, once again, waiting to see how the next 48 hours goes."
Comment 1 - 5 of 5
Should be a very good 6 nations this year ,
SCOTLAND LOOKING VERY GOOD AND SHOULD BEAT ENGLAND WITH SOME EASE
ITALY LOOKING TO LEAVE ENGLAND WITH THE WOODEN SPOON THIS YEAR AND BOTH TEAMS WITH
THEIR NEW COACHES ONLY ITALY HAS A FULL TIME COACH , ENGLAND STILL WAITING TO SEE WHO WINS THE RAFFLE ,
IRELAND IN FANTASTIC SHAPE AND ALL IRISH REGIONS ON FORM THEY SHOULD BE A STRONG UNIT,
WALES WELL STRONG AS EVERY WITH A FEW INJURIES BUT PLAYERS QUEUING FOR A FIRST CAP ,
FRANCE WELL WHO KNOWS BUT WORLD CUP RUNNERS UP ALWAYS A THREAT AGAINST ANY TEAM ,
AND ENGLAND WHO WILL STRUGGLE THIS YEAR WITH SO MANY PLAYERS ON REMAND , BUT THEIR TRIAL TEAM MAY FIND IT HARD AGAINST THE LIKES OF ITALY THIS TIME ROUND BUT STILL THEY CAN ALWAYS THINK ABOUT 2003 AND FEEL A LITTLE BIT BETTER WHILE THE REST OF US ALL
LAUGH OUR BALL LUX OFF. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Its only the 6 Nations, Its only Wales, they're not expected to win anything so what's the problem, but atleast they'll have another excuse apart from the ref when France and England take them to pieces again !
Tesha terrys alter ego along with coward c sad sad sad.
OMG Lobster you really are insecure aren't you? Clinging on to the dim and distant past in 2003. Now all England has is a group of ill disciplined criminals, not really hard at all !! I hope this new English management team can discipline the "little boys" and give back some credibility to English rugby, because at the moment as a genuine English fan I am embarrased by their behaviour and lack of rugby ability, b ut we cannot just keep harping on and on about 2003. It grieves me to say it but the strength in world rugby is ion the Southern Hemisphere and the only Northern Hemisphere team anywhere near them is Wales!!, even with key players missing. I just hope England can avoid the wooden spoon!!
Worse case scenario; it'll give a chance for the second choice players to shine and give them valuable match experience.
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