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Probably a shame for Wales but I have never really "liked" Henson as a player.
Henson to miss finals
From correspondents in London
August 01, 2007
WALES centre Gavin Henson is set to miss the Rugby World Cup after being left out of the side to play England at Twickenham on Saturday.
Henson, 25, has been struggling with an Achilles injury and Wales coach Gareth Jenkins believes the tournament in France, which kicks off next month, will come too soon for the Ospreys star.
"We have taken an early decision on Gavin and decided that he is no longer in contention for the Rugby World Cup squad, which must be named before August 14th, and so is not considered him for selection against England," Jenkins said.
"We have given him every opportunity to make it, and it's been a tough time for Gav in which he has worked hard.
"He's had every opportunity we could have given him, but the recent Achilles injury in particular has meant he's not been able to train at full pelt, and that has reflected in his conditioning.
"I think we all agree he is not where he needs to be."
Henson will remain on stand-by in case he recovers ahead of schedule and other players are hit with injuries, but Jenkins is planning to contest the tournament without him.
"We have talked to him today and he is very understanding," Jenkins said.
"It was a tough call but a call that was necessary and one we had to make sooner rather than later, for his sake as well as ours.
"He is disappointed, but I think he's realised he's been fighting a bit of a losing battle in the last month."
Agence France-Presse
Wales Team To Play England
1. Iestyn Thomas (Llanelli),
2. Huw Bennet (Ospreys),
3. Chris Horsman (Worcester, England),
4. Will James (Gloucester, England);
5. Rob Sidoli (Cardiff),
6. Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys);
7. Colin Charvis (Newport Gwent Dragons),
8. Michael Owen (Newport Gwent Dragons),
9. Gareth Cooper (Gloucester, England);
10. Ceri Sweeney (Newport-Ghent Dragons),
11. Dafydd James (Llanelli),
12. Gareth Thomas (Cardiff, captain);
13. Tom Shanklin (Cardiff),
14. Aled Brew (Ospreys),
15. Lee Byrne (Ospreys);
16. Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff),
17. Rhys Thomas (Newport Gwent Dragons),
18. T.R. Thomas (Newport Gwent Dragons),
19. Alix Popham (Llanelli),
20. Mike Phillips (Ospreys),
21. James Hook (Ospreys),
22. Tom James (Cardiff).
Hipkiss handed England bow
From correspondents in London
August 01, 2007
LEICESTER centre Dan Hipkiss will make his England debut in the Rugby World Cup warm-up game against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday.
Hipkiss, 25, gets a chance to impress as head coach Brian Ashton continues his preparations for England's defence of the Rugby World Cup in France in September.
There is no place in the starting line-up for Lawrence Dallaglio, a member of the side that defeated Australia to win the tournament four years ago.
Dallaglio will be on the bench after Ashton opted for a back row of former captain Martin Corry, Joe Worsley and Nick Easter.
Phil Vickery captains the side, which also includes injury-prone Sale Sharks prop Andrew Sheridan, Harlequins wing David Strettle and Bath lock Steve Borthwick.
Saracens centre Andy Farrell needs to impress alongside debutant Hipkiss because his place in Ashton's 30-man squad for the finals, which will be revealed on August 14, is far from certain after a lackluster start to his international career following his move from rugby league.
Agence France-Presse
England team To Play Wales
1. Andrew Sheridan (Sale),
2. Mark Regan (Bristol),
3. Phil Vickery (Wasps, captain),
4. Simon Shaw (Wasps);
5. Steve Borthwick (Bath),
6. Martin Corry (Leicester);
7. Joe Worsley (Wasps),
8. Nick Easter (Harlequins),
9. Shaun Perry (Bristol);
10. Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle),
11. Jason Robinson (Unattached);
12. Andy Farrell (Saracens),
13. Dan Hipkiss (Leicester),
14. David Strettle (Harlequins),
15. Mark Cueto (Sale);
16. George Chuter (Leicester),
17. Matt Stevens (Bath),
18. Lewis Moody (Leicester),
19. Lawrence Dallaglio (Wasps),
20. Peter Richards (London Irish),
21. Toby Flood (Newcastle),
22. Mathew Tait (Newcastle).
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