Wales endure further front-row injury
Injured prop Gethin Jenkins will be replaced by Paul James in the Welsh starting line-up
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By Matt Hallam. |  |
Thursday, 04, Feb 2010 02:58
By Alistair Potter.
Wales have been forced to make a second late change to their much-vaunted front row ahead of this weekend's Six Nations showdown with England after Gethin Jenkins failed a fitness test.
The prop picked up a calf problem in training this week and despite intense physiotherapy he has been deemed unfit to start at Twickenham.
It means head coach Warren Gatland has been forced to select Ospreys prop Paul James to replace Jenkins, whose fitness will be reassessed next week.
However, Gatland believes the second change - after hooker Matthew Rees was ruled out earlier this week with a groin injury - will not hurt his side's ability to dominate the English up front.
"Paul James has been one of the form props in the Welsh regions so far this season and we are confident he will be a more than able deputy for Gethin," he said.
"Obviously it's not ideal for us to lose Gethin at this stage and we wish him a speedy recovery."
James' promotion from the replacements means Saracens prop Rhys Gill takes his place on the bench.