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Welsh skipper Thomas out 12 weeks
 Owen will captain Wales for the rest of the Six Nations campaign CARDIFF, Wales -- Wales rugby union captain Gareth Thomas was sidelined for 12 weeks Tuesday with a neck injury, missing the rest of the Six Nations tournament. Thomas discovered he had hurt an artery in his neck after being admitted to the hospital on Sunday with a severe migraine. Winger Shane Williams also misses the weekend game in Ireland with a leg injury while center Gavin Henson is on the bench after seven-week ban for foul play. Wales were beaten 47-13 by England in their opening match and then defeated Scotland 28-18 in Cardiff. Wales' latest injuries mean only seven members of the match-day 22 that beat Ireland in the Grand Slam-clinching game last season are in Sunday's squad. They have been in turmoil since last week's resignation of coach Mike Ruddock, but caretaker Scott Johnson said the crisis would galvanise his players. "Tough times breed tough men and we are taking a tough team to Dublin to play tough rugby," the Australian said. "We are going to look squarely in the face of adversity and show a different side to our characters this weekend. "We've shown that we can turn on the pretty stuff, now we are going to show our true heart, make Welsh fans proud of us and proud to be Welsh and come out fighting." Henson, who has hardly played this season, was the trigger for the Ruddock saga following an autobiography which targeted several of his Wales team-mates. Lee Byrne replaces Thomas at fullback and Dafydd James, also of Llanelli Scarlets, takes over from Williams. Backrower Michael Owen is the new captain. "The doctors tell us it is in Gareth's interest to rest and recuperate this week...but we are still hopeful that he will travel with us to Ireland," Johnson said. "This side represents Gareth Thomas and he represents everything that we are about. He is a special individual and still has an important leadership role to play, even when he doesn't make it on to the park." Ireland lock Paul O'Connell has been ruled out of Sunday's match because of a shoulder injury. "Despite having an encouraging period of rehabilitation last week, Paul O'Connell's shoulder has reacted to the next level of training and has not progressed sufficiently," the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) said in a statement. Ireland team doctor Gary O'Driscoll said he was confident O'Connell would be available for the game against Scotland in Dublin on March 11. The IRFU said Saracens hooker Shane Byrne has been added to the Ireland squad as precautionary cover for Jerry Flannery who suffered an ankle strain in training. 
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