Sparky

Outside-half Stephen Jones is likely to miss next week's Test with England after picking up a groin injury in Wales' warm-up match in France.
Team manager Alan Phillips had said to expect fireworks in the game, with the 40-man squad split into two sides.

The match was the culmination of a week-long training camp in Brittany.

Jones, who captained Wales last autumn and in the Six Nations, is set to join wing Shane Williams (elbow) in missing the 4 August game at Twickenham.

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Jones has been in competition with James Hook for the number 10 jersey, Hook starring in the Six Nations win over England when he replaced the injured Scarlets man.

Lions wing Williams is expected to be ruled out of all the August warm-up Tests.

Gavin Thomas, Iestyn Thomas and Robert Sidoli picked up knocks in a bruising week of training, but none are thought to be serious.

"The training match went very well and was played in the right spirit, we got a lot of things out of it," said Wales coach Gareth Jenkins.

"This match was not about selection, it was about continuing the process and I was pleased with the way the boys reacted.

"Overall the decision to come to Brittany and train before the Rugby World Cup was the right thing to do.


Wales lock Ian Gough hits the ice bath after a hard training session

"The only negative is that Stephen Jones has pulled a muscle in his groin which will probably keep him out of next week's game against England.

"There were a couple of other bumps and bruises but nothing too serious and we will know more after we return home."

Philips added: "Training has been pretty physical and competitive.

"It hasn't quite boiled over yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if it did on Friday.

"That's good, players are putting down a marker in a last-chance saloon for places in the 30-man World Cup squad.

"It's just what the boys need before playing England."

Wales have been based in La Baule, the town also set to be their headquarters for their two World Cup group games in Nantes in September.

The England match is Wales' only game before Jenkins cuts his squad down to the final World Cup 30.

After Twickenham, Jenkins' team face Argentina (18 August) and France (26 August) at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, but squads must be submitted by 14 August.

Their opening World Cup match will be against Canada on 9 September at the La Beaujoire Stadium, Nantes.

The squad will return to Cardiff for Millennium Stadium games against Australia (15 September) and Japan (20 September), with the final pool game against Fiji in Nantes (29 September).