Gethin Jenkins, the Wales and Lions loosehead prop, will miss next week's Test against South Africa in Cardiff and the two-Test tour to New Zealand after aggravating the calf injury that forced him to miss most of this year's Six Nations.
Jenkins led Cardiff Blues in last Sunday's Amlin Challenge Cup final against Toulon in Marseille, but was forced off at half-time. He was today ruled out for up to six weeks. "Any team would miss a player of Gethin's quality and it is disappointing to be without him," said the Wales defence coach, Shaun Edwards. "He is a Lion, one of our experienced players and he is renowned for his work in the loose.
"We have to get on with it. John Yapp did terrifically well when he replaced Gethin against Toulon, and training this week has been as good as it has ever been in my time with Wales.
"The Test against South Africa promises to be a rip-roaring affair. We have young players in the squad who are jumping to be given their chance while others who are having a second or third chance are desperate to take their opportunity.
"We have only beaten South Africa once and while both sides will be below full strength, it will be a full-on Test match. People are saying that is it South Africa's reserve team, but when you look at the players they have chosen, there is nothing second rate about it. The success of the Blues has given everyone a lift and we will all be cheering on the Ospreys in Saturday's Magners League final against Leinster."
The Wales and Lions hooker Matthew Rees said losing Jenkins was a blow ahead of matches against two countries Wales have a poor record against: their only win over the Springboks came in 1999 and the last of their three victories against the All Blacks was back in 1953.
"Gethin is the best loosehead in the world and it is disappointing that he will miss the summer Tests," said Rees. "We are fortunate in having Paul James in the squad because he showed in the Six Nations just how good a player he is. It is fair to say that the countdown to the next World Cup starts now. We have huge games coming up that give players the chance to put up their hands. We need to make a statement and we can beat South Africa."
