Today's other stories in brief
Gatland admits dropping Jones was one of his hardest ever decisions
WARREN GATLAND has made his name in charge of Wales this year as someone who is not afraid to make tough decisions or deflate egos, but he admitted dropping the outhalf Stephen Jones for Saturday's Six Nations decider against France in Cardiff was one of the toughest he had made in his coaching career.
When asked why he dropped Jones in favour of James Hook - one of two changes from the side which beat Ireland, with Huw Bennett returning at hooker after recovering from a virus - the New Zealander admitted he had not relished the task of telling the 69-cap Jones, who was outhalf when Wales last won the Grand Slam in 2005.
"Stephen is gutted and I really feel for him," said Gatland. "It was an agonising decision to make, but we felt that James would offer more of a threat in attack. I do not get any pleasure out of telling a player he has been dropped. It was a tough call, but Stephen took it on the chin.
"I have a huge amount of respect for him as a player and as an individual and leaving him out was one of the hardest things I have done as a coach. It is a downside of the job and it does not make you happy when you let players down, but you have to make these calls sometimes."
WALES: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Mark Jones, 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 Gavin Henson, 11 Shane Williams, 10 James Hook, 9 Mike Phillips; 1 Gethin Jenkins, 2 Huw Bennett, 3 Adam Jones, 4 Ian Gough, 5 Alun-Wyn Jones, 6 Jonathan Thomas, 7 Martyn Williams, 8, Ryan Jones (capt). Replacements: 16 M Rees, 17 D Jones, 18 I Evans, 19 G Delve, 20 D Peel, 21 S Jones, 22 S Parker.
Weekend Rugby
Friday
Under-20 Six Nations - England v Ireland, Kingsholm, 7.45pm.
Colleges: Ireland v England, Henley RC, Oxfordshire. 8pm.
Saturday
Six Nations Championship - Italy v Scotland, Stadio Flaminio, 1pm (local time); England v Ireland, Twickenham, 3pm; Wales v France, Millennium Stadium, 5pm.
Women's Six Nations - England v Ireland, London Irish Amateur RFC, 4.45pm.
Sunday
Leinster Schools Senior Cup Final - Belvedere College SJ v St Mary's College, RDS, 2pm.
Monday
Munster Schools Senior Cup Final - Castletroy v CBC, Garryowen FC, 3pm.
Ulster Schools Senior Cup Final - Methodist College, Belfast v Regent House, Ravenhill, 3pm.
Fletcher leaves Newcastle
NEWCASTLE FALCONS have parted company with director of rugby John Fletcher and forwards coach Peter Walton by mutual consent. "I would like to place on record my thanks to John and Peter," said Falcons chairman Dave Thompson. "Coaching and technical director Steve Bates will take charge of team affairs on an interim basis until the end of the season, assisted by Ian Peel."
Fletcher was appointed director of rugby at Kingston Park in August 2006 following the departure of Rob Andrew.
Meanwhile, Bristol lock Gareth Llewellyn has been banned for three weeks at a English Rugby Football Union hearing, after admitting striking Bath prop David Barnes.
And Sale Sharks forward Brent Cockbain has been banned for five weeks after pleading guilty to stamping. The former Wales international was cited after committing the offence in Sale's 15-22 defeat by Worcester.
Danielli and Thomson to start for Scotland
SCOTLAND COACH Frank Hadden has made two injury- enforced changes for Saturday's final Six Nations match against Italy in Rome.
Simon Danielli returns to the wing in place of Rory Lamont who suffered a triple cheekbone fracture in Saturday's 15-9 victory over England at Murrayfield, while Fergus Thomson comes in for Ross Ford (ankle) at hooker.
Ulster's Danielli, who missed the cut for last year's World Cup after being part of the 2003 squad, performed well for Scotland A in their 67-7 win over Ireland A last month.
"Simon has been pushing at the door and deserves the opportunity this weekend . . . (He) is a straight swap for Rory," Hadden said.
Glasgow hooker Thomson, who impressed when he came off the bench on Saturday, was an automatic choice to make his first championship start after Ford was ruled out.
Despite the morale-boosting win over England, a loss by more than five points at the weekend would relegate Scotland to a second successive wooden spoon.
SCOTLAND: 15 Hugo Southwell; 14 Simon Danielli, 13 Simon Webster, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Nikki Walker; 10 Chris Paterson, 9 Mike Blair (capt); 1 Allan Jacobsen, 2 Fergus Thomson, 3 Euan Murray, 4 Nathan Hines, 5 Scott MacLeod, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 7 Allister Hogg, 8 Simon Taylor. Replacements: 16 S Lawson; 17 A Dickinson; 18 C Smith; 19 J White; 20 K Brown; 21 R Lawson; 22 D Parks.
Ireland face huge task
IRELAND face one of the toughest tasks in women's rugby this weekend as they prepare to take on an England team chasing a third consecutive Grand Slam.
Ireland had good wins over Scotland and Italy at home, but lost to Wales last weekend. For this weekend's game, John O'Sullivan has reverted back to his tried and tested starting 15, having experimented against Wales.
Tania Rosser, who started in the number 10 shirt in that game, reverts back to her more familiar position at scrumhalf, with Richmond's Joanne O'Sullivan sliding across the backline into outhalf from centre.
IRELAND: S Belton (capt); L Cantwell, P Kelly, S Houston, G Davitt; J O'Sullivan, T Rosser; F Coghlan, J Limbert, M Barrett, C Mahon, G Healy, E O'Sullivan, O Brennan, J Neville. Replacements:
G Bourke, Y Nolan, S Ryan, L Austin,
L Beamish, N Briggs, A Davis.
