Wales coach Graham Henry confirmed that a decision on Mark Taylor's fitness would not be taken until later today. The centre's recovery from a leg injury sustained in a club match last weekend is gathering pace.
Henry admitted: "We'll have a look at him, there's no hurry. The A team is not going to use Scott (Gibbs). Jonathan Hawker has trained with them all week so he's going to play. There is no pressure on Mark."
Lions centre Gibbs will now stay with the senior squad after initially being named in the Wales A team.
When Henry was asked what he thought of the astronomical financial incentive being offered to any Irish player to score four tries at Lansdowne Road tomorrow, he relied: "Jeez, we better talk to the Irish and see if we can come together on that one. That's hype. It doesn't concern me.
"I think it's good for the game, good for the Irish team and good publicity: so Brian O'Driscoll will have a hat-trick to break. I wouldn't see any problem with it." At this point a Welsh journalist pointed out that the SA Brain & Company brewery in Cardiff has tabled their own offer of a year's supply of beer to any Welsh player accomplishing the same feat.
Henry laughed: "That'd be bloody typical." He pointed out that while he would like to have Taylor available, arguably Wales's most consistent back over the past 20 Test matches, he was aware that Gibbs was desperate to win a place in the side and was therefore reasonably unconcerned about the selection issue.
Henry was generous in his praise of Ireland's season to date. "It's amazing how you get on a roll. Wales won 10 matches in a row last year. It's probably down to confidence, camaraderie and not wanting to lose an unbeaten record. Ireland were very good against Scotland, the Italian game set them up nicely and then they had a marvellous win in Paris.
"I thought they actually deserved to win by more. We were thrilled for them. Warren and his mates are obviously doing a good job. I have a lot of respect for them. They had a bad time during the World Cup and the coaches and players took a lot of flak. I'm delighted for them. They're a good bunch of players, well led and well coached.
When asked why Wales had been unable to sustain their sequence of wins last season, Henry replied: "I think we got a bit complacent, a bit tired. We lost an edge. We can't afford not be to playing at 100 per cent. We are not good enough to be competitive at 90 or 95. In fact we need to be at 120. I think the Irish could understand that. England could perhaps get away with 80 per cent and still win."
