csconstantine.com

{

2011 SIX NATIONS: SCOTLAND v WALES
Venue: Murrayfield Stadium Date: Saturday, 12 February Kick-off: 1700 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One from 1635, and on the Red Button and online; listen on BBC Radio 5 live; live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles. Also broadcast on BBC America.

Jamie Roberts takes on England at the Millennium Stadium on Friday
Jamie Roberts could be switched to the wing for Wales' Six Nations trip to Scotland as Warren Gatland seeks cover for an injury crisis on the flanks.

Leigh Halfpenny and George North are out while Morgan Stoddart is a doubt with a fractured bone in a hand.

Gatland said British and Irish Lions centre Roberts had a "quiet game" in a Six Nations opening defeat to England.

And asked if Wales could move Roberts, Wales skills coach Neil Jenkins admits: "That certainly is an option."

The former Wales fly-half and is not among coach Gatland's selectors but admitted the 2009 Lions man-of-the-series could move from his usual centre berth onto the flanks if Stoddart fails a fitness test.

The Scarlets wing has been given extra time to prove he is available despite fracturing a bone in a hand before scoring Wales' only try in their 26-19 Millennium Stadium defeat to England on Friday.

"Morgan has been given a window of opportunity," said Wales physiotherapist Mark Davies.

"If his symptoms settle down we will clear him to play subject to a fitness review later in the week."

But should Stoddart join regional colleague North (shoulder) and Blues star Halfpenny (ankle) on the injured list then Roberts may be utilised on the opposite flank to Wales' record try-scorer Shane Williams at Murrayfield on Saturday.

If Roberts switches roles, the versatile James Hook may revert from the full-back role he occupied against England to his more familiar role in the centre and play alongside Jonathan Davies.

And then Lions full-back Lee Byrne, dropped to the bench against England, could start at number 15.

Roberts, coincidentally, made his Wales debut on the wing against Scotland in 2008 in the Welsh Grand Slam year during Gatland's first Championship campaign.

He also appeared at full-back before Gatland and defence coach Shaun Edwards took the view that the Cardiff Blues player Roberts was ideally suited to midfield.

But he has had a limited impact there since the Lions tour and Jenkins believes Roberts could fill the role in the manner Scarlets teenager George North achieved during his November introduction to Test rugby.

Cardiff Blues wing Chris Czekaj has been called into the squad as cover for Stoddart but Roberts may still get the nod.

Jamie could have looked for the ball a little bit more
Neil Jenkins on Jamie Roberts' display against England

Jenkins said: "Jamie had his first cap on the wing against Scotland in 2008… George is a fantastic player and he caused all sorts of problems when he played in the autumn playing off Stephen.

"And [he was effective off] a short ball behind the centres as well... and Jamie would be very effective at that.

"But the team will be picked in due course and you'll get to find out then. But that certainly is an option and James moving up and Byrney there as well who's a fantastic full-back."

Jenkins says Roberts could have been more pro-active in his approach against England, saying: "Jamie had one of his quieter games.

"We know how good a player he is, how good a ball-carrier he is. I think we'd like to see him carrying the ball as much as possible.

"One, he had a quieter game; two we didn't get the ball to him and three probably Jamie could have looked for the ball a little bit more.

"So I think it's all a culmination of a lot of things and it's something we can hopefully get right this week."

However, Jenkins defended Wales' tactical approach against a growing chorus of criticism among Welsh fans and pundits who believe Gatland's side are predictable and lacking in attacking variety.

He said: "In terms of the way we are playing, I feel we're happy with the way we're playing, the way that we progress and go about the game and obviously look at the opposition as well.

"We feel that the weaknesses in their game, the way we played is the way we wanted to play.

"I think we're reasonably happy with that and we've just got to get better at it and make the right decisions."

But the ex-Wales and Lions star says Wales must accept some of the criticism that came their way.

He said: "No-one's alien to criticism - we all get it and if we haven't won, we deserve it. It's as simple as that.

"If we haven't played to the standards that we expect, most definitely, we've got to take that on the chin.

"We've got to work our socks off to get it right, get ourselves back on track and get ourselves a win."

Wales squad:

Forwards: Paul James (Ospreys), John Yapp (Blues), Craig Mitchell (Ospreys), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Scott Andrews (Blues), Matthew Rees (Scarlets, capt), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Blues), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Andy Powell (Wasps), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Rob McCusker (Scarlets), Dan Lydiate (Dragons).

Backs: Mike Phillips (Ospreys), Dwayne Peel (Sale), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), James Hook (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Shane Williams (Ospreys), Morgan Stoddart (Scarlets), Lee Byrne (Ospreys), Chris Czekaj (Blues)

Agences de presses

Labels: Jamie, Nations, option, Roberts, switch, Wales