Wales have suffered a second major injury blow ahead of Saturday's RBS Six Nations opener with England at Twickenham.
Star prop struck down by injury
Wales have suffered a second major injury blow ahead of their RBS Six Nations opener with England on Saturday.
British and Irish Lions prop Gethin Jenkins has been ruled out of the Twickenham showdown after failing a fitness test on a calf muscle problem.
Ospreys forward Paul James has been promoted from the bench to replace Jenkins, with uncapped Saracens prop Rhys Gill named on the bench.
Jenkins' withdrawal comes just a day after fellow Lion and front-row forward, hooker Matthew Rees, was ruled out of the Twickenham showdown with a groin injury.
Wales head coach Warran Gatland said: "Obviously, it is not ideal for us to lose Gethin at this stage, and we wish him a speedy recovery.
"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."
James, 27, started all four of Wales' autumn Tests this season as a tighthead prop replacement for Adam Jones. Loosehead, though, is his familiar position for the Ospreys.
