Wales' team manager Alan Phillips has revealed that an alternative Test side had been discussed by the selection team just in case the country's top payers had decided to go on strike.

Contingency plans were being formulated for the Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship clash at Twickenham as Wales braced themselves to lose key personnel like Lions trio Scott Quinnell, Rob Howley and Dafydd James.

Players from Wales' so-called Gang of Six clubs - Cardiff, Llanelli, Newport, Bridgend, Swansea and Pontypridd - were prepared to boycott the England game.

But proposed industrial action was called off yesterday after prolonged talks between the clubs and Welsh Rugby Union representatives resulted in an agreement to cut professional club numbers in Wales from nine to six.

Team manager Phillips though, has conceded it could have been a totally different Wales XV travelling down the M4 later this week.

It would have meant trawling clubs outside the Gang of Six - Neath, Ebbw Vale, Caerphilly, and possibly even second division sides such as Pontypool and Aberavon - to fulfil the fixture.

"We did try to pencil in a provisional team," Phillips said. "We had to do that, because it's our job for the WRU, but no players were contacted.

"If we had found ourselves having to take another team to Twickenham, then that is what we would have done."

But Phillips also paid tribute to the way Quinnell and his colleagues had conducted themselves during an often-fraught past seven days or so.

"You have to give the players respect, because they stood up and were counted," he claimed. "It would have been easy for them to hide behind the club owners and chief executives, but they didn't."

Caretaker Wales coach Steve Hansen, who today recalled experienced internationals Gareth Thomas and Colin Charvis to a 23-man squad for the England game, added: "We've moved on and are concentrating on playing a Test match.

"There is no strike, it's behind us and everyone is excited about the challenge ahead of us against England.

"They are a great side, and this is an opportunity for us to measure ourselves and assess where we are. There is great enthusiasm and excitement in the camp."

Hansen is due to announce the starting line-up on Wednesday afternoon. He will also be keeping one eye on his wife Jill, who is currently expecting the couple's fourth child, which is due next Saturday.