Wales blow as star duo Jenkins and Priestland out

Wales will be without prop Gethin Jenkins and fly-half Rhys Priestland for their opening RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland.

“Gethin is struggling and could be out for four to five weeks,” said coach Warren Gatland at yesterday’s Six Nations launch in London.

“Rhys will be struggling for the first game. We’re assessing him day by day.”

Flanker Dan Lydiate is a doubt for the trip to Lansdowne Road because of an ankle problem, but the prognosis over centre Jamie Roberts’ knee injury is more positive.

“Dan Lydiate is touch and go. We’re hoping Jamie Roberts will be OK,” said Gatland.

Gatland admitted the loss of Lions front row Jenkins and Priestland, who emerged as one of the stars of last year’s World Cup, will be keenly felt.

“Gethin is a huge loss for us for potentially the first two games of the tournament,” he said.

“He’s been playing exceptionally well for the Blues in the last month. He’s a world class player. He’s got a very good rugby brain and is able to asses things on the field.

“He’s almost like a coach on the field.

“You get a lot of information from him at half-time, what’s going right or wrong, tactically where we need to change.

“Rhys was probably the find, if not the best, fly-half at the World Cup. He really does fit the type of game we want to play.

“His kicking game and vision are excellent. He stretches opposition defences as well because he’s not afraid to run.

“He was one of the reasons we saw some really big performances from Jamie Roberts, Jon Davies and Scott Williams. He will be a big loss for us.

Meanwhile Scotland coach Andy Robinson revealed he would use Scotland’s anger over England’s World Cup antics to motivate his players before next weekend’s Calcutta Cup clash.

Robinson stood by his claim England had been “arrogant” during October’s final Pool B match in New Zealand, which Scotland lost to a last-gasp Chris Ashton try.

The Scots were upset by England’s behaviour during and after the game, with head coach Robinson admitting that was partly behind his decision to cite Delon Armitage for a dangerous tackle.

“You use every emotion. That is what rugby is about.

“It’s an emotional game, it’s a passionate game, it’s a physical game and you’ve got to channel all that into your performance and that’s what we’ll be drawing on in the lead-up to the game.”