Peel doubtful for Rome clash
Welshman Dwayne Peel was injured on club duty with Sale Sharks
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Monday, 09, Mar 2009 04:43
Scrum-half Dwayne Peel is likely to miss Wales' Six Nations clash against Italy on Saturday due to a hamstring injury.
The Sale Sharks star was forced off in the weekend defeat to Newcastle Falcons and is rated as a severe doubt for the match in Rome.
Wales team physion Mark Davies confirmed that Peel was "gutted" at the timing of the injury, and admitted his chances of recovering before the weekend "aren't great".
"We left Dwayne to the devices of Sale but he is having a scan and is hoping to travel down later so we can make a full assessment on him," Davies told the BBC.
"It's not looking great, it is one of those things that is more a thumbs down rather than a thumps up.
"It is a bit unfortunate that key boys played on the weekend because we have been dealt a blow.
"It has hampered training, it is a little bit disruptive but it becomes part and parcel of things due to the physical nature of the game."
If Peel cannot start it will mean a recall for Mike Phillips, who has started in the reigning champions' first three matches of the tournament.
Phillips was initially dropped as head coach Warren Gatland made ten changes to his side following their 21-16 defeat to France in Paris last time out.