Wales to unleash fury over 'severe' Thomas ban

Wales are privately angered by the decision of the European Rugby Cup disciplinary panel to suspend Gareth Thomas for a month – and are ready to take that frustration out on Ireland tomorrow.

Thomas will miss Wales’ opening three RBS 6 Nations fixtures after being handed a four-week ban for two counts of misconduct, stemming from Toulouse’s controversial Heineken Cup game against Ulster on January 21.

The Welsh Rugby Union yesterday decided not appeal against a ban they believe to be “severe”. Some at the union feel a fine would have sufficed.

The uncertainty over Thomas’ selection caused major disruption for head coach Gareth Jenkins, who also lost key men Tom Shanklin, Mark Jones and Shane Williams to injury.

Jenkins switched to plan B after losing Thomas, with Cardiff’s Jamie Robinson named at outside centre and Hal Luscombe switching onto the wing.

And Jenkins is determined Wales channel their disappointment at the whole episode into tomorrow’s Cardiff clash.

“We would love to have Alfie playing but I think it can add to our motivation if anything,” said Jenkins.

“He remains part of the squad and what he needs to do now is behave like every player not picked. He needs to be motivated. He needs to be energised and he needs to be a support player like the guys who aren’t playing.

“We spoke about what we were doing as a group and we all shared in it. We were prepared for the outcome.

“I believe that on our day we can beat anybody and tomorrow we will be up for this game. We realise how important it could be to rest of the Six Nations.”

Robinson partnered James Hook in midfield on the summer tour of Argentina, when winger Chris Czekaj made his Test debut for Wales. Both start tomorrow in a patched up back division.

They face the might of Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy and Ronan O’Gara but Jenkins retains full confidence in his young guns.

“These are young men who have been given a chance. They may not be out first choice but their individual motivation will come through,” he said.

“We have a chance of starting off the tournament very positively.”

On paper, Wales would struggle to match Ireland’s back division and their lineout kings Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan but Jenkins is determined to target their scrum.

He named Worcester prop Chris Horsman in a powerful front row and Llanelli’s strong and in-form loose-forward Alix Popham alongside Ryan Jones in the back row.

Jenkins has taken heart from the poor performance of Munster’s pack in their recent Heineken Cup defeat to Leicester at Thomand Park.

Six of that Munster pack start for Ireland tomorrow and Jenkins said: “I’d like to emulate that Leicester performance and if it could happen it would be a positive towards winning that game.

“That was a particularly bad day for Munster and they will be motivated by that.

“But we realise if there are any questions to be asked of Ireland it is in the scrum and the selection reflects that.”