Six Nations 2015: Wales prop Paul James out of Six Nations
Last updated on .From the section Welsh Rugby
| Six Nations 2015: Wales v Ireland |
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| Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Date: 14 March, 2015 Kick-off: 14:30 GMT |
| Coverage: Live on BBC One, HD, Red Button, S4C, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, Radio 5 live, 5 live sports extra, online, mobile, the BBC Sport app and Connected TV. |
Wales will be without Paul James for the rest of the Six Nations after the prop suffered a fractured thumb in their 20-13 win over France.
But there is better news over captain Sam Warburton and fly-half Dan Biggar, who were also hurt last weekend.
Flanker Warburton has a bruised knee while Biggar took a blow to his hip.
Both players will continue to be monitored by the Wales medical staff but are set to return to training ahead of the game with Ireland on 14 March.
Bath's James, 32, has won 27 of his 60 caps as a replacement, many of them deputising for 113-cap British and Irish Lion Gethin Jenkins, 34.
James, who rejoins Ospreys ahead of 2015-16, is regarded as a stronger scrummager than Jenkins, whose work around the field has made him one of the world's leading forwards.
Uncapped Scarlets loose-head prop Rob Evans, 22, was selected in Wales' original tournament squad and unless coach Warren Gatland calls in cover, is likely to be Wales' understudy to Jenkins against Ireland.
Warburton was replaced in the 69th minute against France, with Wales coach Warren Gatland sending on Justin Tipuric at open-side.
The 2013 British and Irish Lions captain did not join his team-mates at the post-match function, instead planning on a night "getting up every two hours icing" the injury.
Biggar went over for Wales' try at Stade de France and full-back Leigh Halfpenny kicked five penalties as they beat France for a record-equalling fourth consecutive time.
Wing George North, who became the youngest player in the game's history to win 50 caps, says the win reminded him of events during Wales' 2013 title success and that they remain in the hunt for 2015 honours.
Gatland's side will face an Ireland side in Cardiff on 14 March with a Grand Slam in their sights after beating England 19-9 in Dublin on Sunday.
Ireland have their own injury concerns ahead of the match at the Millennium Stadium, with Sean O'Brien, Jared Payne and Jonathan Sexton all doubts.
Should Wales inflict Ireland's first defeat of the campaign, then Gatland's side will go to Italy in the final round on 21 March with a chance of winning the Championship.
WALES 2015 SIX NATIONS SQUAD:
Forwards: Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Rob Evans (Scarlets), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues), Richard Hibbard (Gloucester), Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Luke Charteris (Racing Metro), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), James King (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Backs: Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Jonathan Davies (Clermont Auvergne), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton Saints), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon).