D-day for Mark Jones
Wales expect to find out today whether in-form wing Mark Jones will be fit for the final Six Nations Championship clash against France at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
Jones is a major worry after picking up a knee injury during the 18-18 draw against Italy last weekend.
The Scarlets flyer has been a key component of Wales’ Six Nations campaign and has scored two of his side’s three tries against Ireland and Italy.
Jones was due to test the knee in training this morning but at this stage he is considered a doubt.
Assistant coach Clive Griffiths said: “It was a contact injury and we will not know anything until he starts running on it.
“It is one of those injuries that could clear up after two days or one that will keep him out for two weeks. We just don’t know at this stage.”
Wales do know, however, that they will be without British Lions scrum-half Dwayne Peel.
Peel lasted only eight minutes of the Italy clash and is expected to be sidelined for the next four weeks, meaning he will probably miss Llanelli’s Powergen Cup final against Wasps next month.
That means Mike Phillips will almost certainly start against France on Saturday, but the identity of the replacement number nine is less clear.
Bath’s Andy Williams and Worcester’s Matt Powell have been training with the Wales squad and a decision will be made over the next 24 hours.
The Wales management would not be drawn on any other changes to the squad, although Llanelli’s number eight is being tipped for a start in the back-row.
Meanwhile, hooker Rhys Thomas believes there is nothing particularly wrong with the Wales lineout, despite the draw with Italy.
He said: “You have got to put things into perspective. No one’s dead. It was a rugby game at the end of the day and we didn’t lose, we drew.
“And we will take as many positives as we can out of the Italian game.
“The lineouts went a lot better than many people might have thought. We won 20 out of 24, which is an 83% success rate.
“The lineout isn’t an issue and it has been improving every game. It’s up there with the best teams in the world.
“I think we were happy as a whole but there were key areas where the referee needed to be more strict.”
Thomas added: “We will go into the France game looking at the positives.
“The France-England game was pretty scrappy, but I think France are playing well at the moment and when they put things together they are a dangerous team.
“They have great skills, great runners and their forward pack is really strong.
“They are fighting for the championship and they deserve to be up there.
“Along with Italy, France have one of the strongest scrums in the championship. We did well against Italy so there is no reason why we can’t hold our own against the French.”
Meanwhile, Wales’ caretaker coach Scott Johnson has come in for some fierce criticism from another Wales hooker, former British Lions star Bobby Windsor.
Windsor said: ”As far as I’m concerned Johnson is a show pony.
“The big fear for me is that Australia withdraw their supposed offer for him and he’s left with nothing except Wales.
“I wouldn’t keep him unless it’s for a part in a pantomime.”
