Further headaches for Hansen

By Dai
March 8 2003

Wales coach Steve Hansen is expected to name his Wales team today to face Scotland and many thought it would be a simple case of one in one out. However, recalled Bath hooker John Humphries looks increasingly unlikely to make the team due to injury so who does Steve Hansen pick?

    Earlier this week, I heard that Steve Hansen was only going to make one change for Saturdays visit to Scotland and that was to be Stephen Jones in place of Ceri Sweeney at outside half.

    However, due to injury problems, Johnathan Humphries looks increasingly uncertain to be included in Hansen's team when it is announced today and so that leaves the decision whether or not to bring back Mefin Davies, who many thought was harshly treated after the Rome debacle or does Hansen give inexperienced Bridgend hooker Gareth Williams his first Wales start?

   Also, Johnathan Humphries absence leaves a huge questionmark over who will take over the captaincy. Most peoples choice is Martyn Williams however Hansen could opt to bring back under fire Swansea flanker Colin Charvis and hope he doesn't give a repeat performance of his display in Rome.

   So at the start of the week, just one change was expected but with our "new" captain unlikely to start due to injury there will be a change at hooker and possibly a change in the back row, depending on who Hansen opts for as the captain.

   What do you think? Tell us on the messageboard

Wales :K Morgan (Swansea), R Williams (Cardiff), M Taylor (Swansea), T Shanklin (Saracens), G Thomas (Bridgend), S Jones (Llanelli), G Cooper (Bath), I Thomas (Llanelli), G Williams (Bridgend), B Evans (Swansea), S Williams (Northampton), R Sidoli (Pontypridd), D Jones (Llanelli), G Thomas (Bath), M Williams (Capt) (Cardiff).
Reps: M Davies (Pontypridd), G Jenkins (Pontypridd), G Llewellyn (Neath), C Charvis (Swansea), D Peel (Llanelli), I Harris (Cardiff), M Watkins, (Llanelli).

Scotland: G Metcalfe (Glasgow); K Logan (Wasps), J McLaren (Bordeaux-Begles), K Utterson (Borders), C Paterson (Edinburgh); G Townsend (Borders), B Redpath (Sale, capt); T Smith (Northampton), G Bulloch (Glasgow), B Douglas (Borders), S Murray (Edinburgh), S Grimes (Newcastle), J White (Glasgow), S Taylor (Edinburgh), A Mower (Newcastle).
Subs: R Russell (Saracens), G Kerr (Leeds), N Hines (Edinburgh), J Petrie (Glasgow), M Blair (Edinburgh), G Ross (Leeds), A Craig (Orrell).