WALES MAY delay naming their side to face England in Cardiff next week until 48 hours before the kick-off because of a mounting injury crisis. Ten of the 21 players on duty against France last month were unable to train yesterday.
The second row Mark Rowley has already been ruled out because of a hand injury while the outside half Arwel Thomas and the prop David Young are unlikely to play.
Thomas strained knee ligaments 10 days ago and had a brace removed yesterday. He said: "I have prepared myself for the worst."
Young has had his left foot put in plaster after being carried from the field during Cardiff's victory at Ebbw Vale on Saturday. "Time is against me, but I will know more when I have the plaster taken off at the end of the week," he said.
Wing Gareth Thomas has ankle ligament damage while the centre Scott Gibbs (neck strain), also missed training along with the scrum half Robert Howley, the props Christian Loader and Lyndon Mustoe, the wing Ieuan Evans and Craig Quinnell who all sat out last Saturday's league programme. "It may be that we will delay announcing the side until the Thursday before the England game," said the Wales coach Kevin Bowring.
Better news for Bowring was the availability of outside half Jonathan Davies who proved his recovery from a fractured rib and stands by to replace Thomas.
. The Scotland team manager Arthur Hastie, meanwhile, admitted that the selection committee had little trouble "rubber-stamping" the side to face France in their final Five Nations Championship clash at the Parc des Princes on March 15th.
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