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Jenkins ruled out for Wales

Lions prop Gethin Jenkins will miss the Twickenham showdown with England © Getty Images

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Adam Jones | England v Wales

Wales prop Gethin Jenkins has withdrawn from the Six Nations clash with England at Twickenham on Saturday after failing a fitness test on a calf injury.

Jenkins will be replaced in the starting line-up by Ospreys prop Paul James and the uncapped Rhondda-born Saracens prop Rhys Gill takes up the spot vacated by James on the bench. Jenkins' withdrawal follows the loss of hooker Matthew Rees, whose groin injury sidelined him from Warren Gatland's selection plans.

"Paul James has been one of the form props in the Welsh regions so far this season and we are confident he will be a more than able deputy for Gethin," said Gatland. "Obviously it's not ideal for us to lose Gethin at this stage and we wish him a speedy recovery."

James, 27, started all four of Wales' autumn Tests this season as a tight-head prop replacement for Adam Jones. Loose-head, though, is his familiar position for the Ospreys. Jenkins will remain with the Wales camp and be reassessed next week. Wales' second Six Nations game is against Scotland at the Millennium Stadium in nine days' time.

Wales back James Hook, meanwhile, insists the speculation currently raging about his playing future will not prove a distraction during this season's Six Nations. The 24-year-old lines up against England in a game that will allow Hook's many admirers to engage in another bout of window shopping. French champions Perpignan and last season's Heineken Cup semi-finalists Cardiff Blues have been on the trail, together with several Guinness Premiership clubs.

Hook's existing Ospreys contract expires next year, but his market value might climb even further over the next six weeks. Hook has twice lined up for Wales against England. Wales won both games, and he was man of the match on each occasion.

He wears Wales' number 13 shirt for the first time - he has also started at fullback, inside centre and fly-half during a 37-cap Test career - and possesses the creative spark to ignite a back division that, on paper at least, is world class.

"My thoughts are on Wales at the moment," said Hook. "It (speculation) is flattering and nice to know clubs want me and things, but to be honest, I am just focusing on the Six Nations. When offers come in for you, you have got to take a look at them. I am not going to look at them just yet because my contract is up next year. When the time comes, I will take a look. A lot can happen in a year - I know that more than anyone."

Fullback Lee Byrne's successful appeal against a two-week ban has enabled Gatland to field the versatile Hook where he wanted him for Twickenham - at centre alongside Jamie Roberts.

"I am excited about it," added Hook. "I am really focused on trying to nail down a good performance against England, and hopefully nail down a position for Wales. You let your rugby ability take over and just get on with it, really."

Hook pulled the strings from fly-half when Wales triumphed at Twickenham two years ago, helping to inspire a thrilling 26-19 fightback win after England led by 10 points. The previous season he was also at it, amassing 22 points as England left Cardiff a beaten team, but that 2008 away-day success will live long in Hook's memory.

"We were the underdogs and pretty much got beaten off the park in the first half. To come back the way we did was brilliant," he said. "In Wales, you are brought up wanting to beat England, whether it is the national side or going on tour for Aberavon Youth versus a team in England. You just want to beat them because they are English. It's friendly rivalry, and that shouldn't change."

Wales:
L Byrne (Ospreys); T James (Cardiff Blues), J Hook (Ospreys), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), G Cooper (Cardiff Blues); P James (Ospreys), G Williams (Cardiff Blues), A Jones (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), A Powell (Cardiff Blues), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, capt)
Replacements: H Bennett (Ospreys), R Gill (Saracens), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), J Thomas (Ospreys), R Rees (Cardiff Blues), A Bishop (Ospreys), L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues)

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