Connolly on a mission

Wallaby coach John Connolly is trying to persuade Wales' caretaker coach, Scott Johnson, to become his backs coach.

Johnson, 43, has said it will be family reasons that dictate what he does and he is known to have been under pressure from his teenage son, Jarrah, to return home.

Jarrah, whom Johnson left in Australia with a relative, has been phoning his father regularly, pleading with him to head back.

But Connolly's mission is two-fold. He not only has to persuade Johnson to leave his adopted country after the Six Nations, but also agree a compensation deal with Bath to capture the forwards coach, Michael Foley.

Connolly was at his old stamping ground in Bath on Tuesday for talks about smoothing the way for Foley to return to Australia to take charge of the forwards.

Meanwhile, Wales fans learned injured five-eighths Stephen Jones was doubtful to start against Italy next week.

- INDEPENDENT