Giggs hoping to ride on crest of Welsh wave

CAPTAIN Ryan Giggs hopes the euphoria which followed Welsh rugby’s Grand Slam success can rub off on the footballers.

The Manchester United winger wins his 50th cap against Austria on Saturday, having trained normally so far this week despite the recent operation to reset his broken nose.

He and the Welsh players have been overwhelmed since their arrival in Cardiff by the feelgood factor which has come on the back of Saturday’s historic rugby victory over Ireland.

Now the footballers, who have not won a competitive international for two years, hope to provide more Welsh cheer when they face the Austrians in the same arena the rugby heroes inspired such scenes of patriotic joy.

Manager John Toshack’s squad trained yesterday at Swansea’s Vetch Field and reported no injury problems.