COULD Wales call on 36-year-old former Newport Gwent Dragons war horse Ian Gough in their hour of need when their Six Nations squad is announced today?
Caretaker boss Rob Howley has endured a series of nightmare selection headaches with no fewer than 10 players injured – the majority of those frontline players.
The scarcity of second rows has long passed crisis point with five currently unavailable and Wales’ opening match against Ireland just over a fortnight away.
Ex-Dragons captain Luke Charteris is out for the season after rupturing knee ligaments playing for Perpignan just before Christmas and the lock casualty list includes Ospreys trio Ian Evans (knee), Alun Wyn Jones (knee) Ryan Jones (thumb), and Cardiff Blues’ Bradley Davies (ankle).
Among those racing to be fit to play some part in the Six Nations are Dragons Flanker Dan Lydiate, hooker Richard Hibbard and centre Ashley Beck while tighthead Aaron Jarvis and fly half Rhys Priestland are out long-term.
Gough won his 64th and last cap against Fiji in 2010.
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