Wales lose Morgan and Jones for Wallabies test

Wales were dealt a double blow ahead of Saturday's test match against a resurgent Australia in Cardiff, with the news that they must tackle the Wallabies without Kevin Morgan and the flanker Dafydd Jones.

Both players were injured against Fiji and missed the defeat against South Africa last weekend, but it had been hoped that they would recover in time to face the Wallabies.

Doubts hover over the 6ft 9in lock Luke Charteris, who pulled out of the Springbok Test with a calf strain.

There was also confirmation that the second-rower Brent Cockbain was out for the rest of the season and the back-row forward Ryan Jones would be out for a further six months, leaving Wales' Six Nations prospects looking a trifle bleak.

- INDEPENDENT