Wood and Galwey slam attempts to make Six Nations a two- tier event

TWO Irish captains and Lions players — Keith Wood and Mick Galwey — have slammed the Six Nations Championship committee for what they describe as attempts to make the tournament a two-tier affair by allowing France and England to play-off in the last game of the season.

Wood, who hopes to make a comeback from injury to lead Ireland into this year's World Cup reacted angrily, saying: "I object to seeding, full stop. In the last five years it has gone down to the wire anyway, so why tinker with the concept? It's presumptuous to say England and France will be the best sides in the championship."

Wood was responding to the fact that the last game of the 2004 season's championship has been set between France and England, rather than the opening fixture as happened this year.