Irate Henry lashes out at Australia

Wales are resigned to losing the New South Wales centre Jason Jones-Hughes from their World Cup squad, prompting a scathing attack on the Australian Rugby Union by Welsh coach Graham Henry.

Henry named Jones-Hughes in his 30-man squad in June, but the International Rugby Board decreed that he was ineligible to play for Wales having appeared for Australia's second team, the Barbarians, last year.

Jones-Hughes (23) appealed and Wales hoped the hearing would be held this month under a new IRB rule which comes into force from October. The change allows for a judicial review panel, chaired by an independent lawyer, to hear such cases, but the ARU insisted that the matter be heard by the full board council in October.

"Australia's stance is absolutely ridiculous," said Henry. "Jason is in limbo because of a whim of rugby administrators who are too old to play themselves. If what Australia are doing is constitutional, then the constitution needs to change. There is no good reason why anyone should stand in the way of a player who has the chance of appearing in the World Cup. It is absolutely ridiculous and the ARU should be ashamed of itself."

Henry has two weeks before he has to officially submit his squad. Yesterday he called up the Western Province centre Andy Marinos to replace Jones-Hughes for the matches this month against Canada, France and the United States.

Henry has made wholesale changes for next Saturday's World Cup warm-up Test against Canada in Cardiff. Henry has introduced eight players who did not start when Wales conquered South Africa earlier this summer.

The list includes Swansea and British Lions centre Scott Gibbs, a notable absentee from the South Africa game and Wales' two Tests in Argentina because of a chest injury.

Gibbs will partner Cardiff's Leigh Davies in midfield, Allan Bateman is switched from centre to left wing and Bateman's former Richmond team-mate Nick Walne wears the number 14 jersey.

In the pack, experienced Cardiff hooker Jonathan Humphreys scrums down between props Peter Rogers and Ben Evans, Swansea lock Andy Moore earns his first start under Henry and there is an opportunity for back-up flankers Geraint Lewis and Martyn Williams.

Meanwhile, Will Greenwood and Paul Grayson aim to kick-start their careers when England A face USA at Northampton tonight in the first of five build-up matches for England before the World Cup.

Grayson limped out of the Five Nations and Greenwood has played no serious rugby since November. The full England Test team play the US Eagles on Saturday night at Twickenham.