Kevin Maggs and Jeremy Davidson were yesterday ruled out of contention for this Saturday's Six Nations encounter against Italy at Lansdowne Road, as a result of which Paddy Johns has been called up to the squad.
Maggs first tweaked his hamstring towards the end of the first-half of the 50-18 defeat in Twickenham, played on with the injury and then aggravated it in a try-scoring performance for Bath the following week.
Davidson did well when he came on for Mick Galwey at Lansdowne Road last Saturday week in the 4422 win over Scotland but his knee became inflamed afterwards and has not responded quickly enough to treatment.
The Irish team will be announced after an open training session at Dr Hickey Park tomorrow, and the management are considering keeping the 23-man squad intact for the remainder of the week.
In the interim, Mark Blair has been called up to the A squad in place of the promoted Johns, while the Ireland Under-21s to play their Italian counterparts in Musgrave Park on Friday evening (kick-off 7.30) show no changes from the team which beat Scotland 41-8 last time out. Andrew Dunne, having recovered from a broken leg which has sidelined him for the last few months, has been called into the replacements.
Wales coach Graham Henry has made one change to the team that started against Italy, recalling flanker Colin Charvis for Saturday's Six Nations match against England at Twickenham.
Charvis comes in for Geraint Lewis. Matt Cardey, the New Zealand-born Llanelli full back, is included in the replacements.
"The number six position is an ongoing debate," said Henry yesterday. "Colin played very well at the weekend and when he came on against Italy. Geraint Lewis played well against France when he came on. But we have decided to give the jersey to Colin.
"Matt Cardey gives us more balance in the reserves and there has been some question marks over the cover we have at full back," Henry said.
"He has been playing well for the A side and after liaising with the coaches for that team, he deserves to get his chance."
Cardey is the third Kiwi-born player in the Wales 22 after full back Shane Howarth and flanker Brett Sinkinson.
Henry, also a New Zealander, refused to accept he was relying on his countrymen to help Wales win for the first time at Twickenham since 1988.
"I just ignore the rubbish that it's another Kiwi in the side, I just want to pick the best team available. Whatever colour, creed or nationality they are does not matter to me."
Meanwhile, Scotland captain John Leslie has declared himself fit for the match against France at Murrayfield on Saturday.
The New Zealand-born centre, who has been struggling with a bruised hip, played only 10 minutes of Scotland's opening Six Nations game against Italy and did not play against Ireland in Dublin. The Scots lost both matches heavily.
The semi-final of the English Cup has drawn London Irish against Northampton and Bristol v Wasps. Both of the matches will be played at the Madejski Stadium in Reading on April 8th. Bristol will play Wasps in the first semi-final at 2.15 p.m., followed by London Irish v Northampton at 5.0 p.m.
Tickets are now on sale for next Saturday's match between Ireland and Italy at Lansdowne Road. The ticket line number is 01-246 9900. Stand tickets are available at £35 or £30, and terrace tickets at £13.
Wales (v England at Twickenham): S Howarth (Newport); G Thomas (Cardiff), A Bateman (Northampton), M Taylor (Swansea), S Williams (Neath); N Jenkins (Cardiff), R Howley (Cardiff); P Rogers (Newport), G Jenkins (Swansea), D Young (Cardiff) capt, C Quinnell (Cardiff), C Wyatt (Llanelli), C Charvis (Swansea), B Sinkinson (Neath), S Quinnell (Llanelli). Replace- ments: B Williams (Bristol), S John (Cardiff), I Gough (Pontypridd), G Lewis (Pontypridd), R Smith (Ebbw Vale), M Cardey (Llanelli), S Jones (Llanelli). Ireland Under-21s (v Italy at Musgrave Park) - G D'Arcy (Lansdowne); J Norton (UCD), P Wallace (UCD), S Moore (UCD) capt, S Keogh (Old Belvedere); J Staunton (Garryowen), K Campbell (London Irish); N Foxe (St Mary's College), A Flavin (London Irish), N Treston (Blackrock), D O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution), P O'Connell (Young Munster), J Skurr (Otley), C McCarey (Ballymena), A Hughes (Dungannon). Replacements: A O'Brien (UCD), B Urquhart (Dublin University), F Roche (Shannon), A Kear- ney (UCD), A Dunne (Old Belvedere), M Lawlor (Shannon), K Lewis (Dublin University).
English Cup Draw
Semi-finals Bristol v Wasps - 2.15 London Irish v Northampton - 5.0
Madejski Stadium, Reading, April 8th.
