Powell latest setback as Wales’ injury crisis deepens

WALES’ injury-hit RBS 6 Nations campaign has claimed another victim with Wasps forward Andy Powell ruled out of the clash against Scotland next Saturday.

Number eight Powell, who looks set to be replaced in the starting line-up at Murrayfield by former Wales captain Ryan Jones, suffered a shoulder problem during England’s 26-19 Millennium Stadium victory three days ago.

He joins the likes of Adam Jones, Gethin Jenkins, Leigh Halfpenny, George North and Tom Shanklin on a lengthy casualty list.

But there is better news surrounding wing Morgan Stoddart, who has been given extra time to prove his fitness after breaking a bone in his hand against England.

Stoddart, Wales’ try-scorer at the Millennium Stadium, will be monitored daily, with Cardiff Blues wing Chris Czekaj last night called into the squad as cover.

It had been thought Stoddart would miss out on Murrayfield, but a specialist orthopaedic opinion has offered him a chance of being fit.

“Morgan has been given a window of opportunity,” said Wales physiotherapist Mark Davies.

“If his symptoms settle down, we will clear him to play subject to a fitness review later in the week.”

Wales assistant coach Neil Jenkins, meanwhile, accepts there can be no hiding place for Wales after a demoralising run of Test match defeats that stretch back to last summer.

Wales are desperate to find a way of kicking the losing habit, having suffered seven defeats and scraped an autumn draw against Fiji in their last eight Tests.

Jenkins said: “You can’t hide from the fact we have lost an awful lot of games — and we are not hiding from that.

“A lot of the games we have lost we’ve been very close. We’ve been out in front, either been pegged back or come up short towards the end.

“Some of these (Wales) players are world-class players, fantastic players, and when they have ball in hand they are pretty deadly.

“We know we can do it – it’s just making the right decisions at the right time.”