Gatland calls up Roberts for debut

CARDIFF, Wales -- Cardiff Blues winger Jamie Roberts will make his debut as Wales try to maintain their momentum in the Six Nations Championship when they follow their remarkable 26-19 defeat of England with a home game against Scotland on Saturday.

Wales coach Warren Gatland gives preference to Roberts over Mark Jones, who has dropped out of the 22.

Tom Shanklin replaces Sonny Parker at outside center and Ian Evans starts in the second row because Alun-Wyn Jones has an ankle injury.

Jonathan Thomas, who suffered a heavy blow to the head after a tackle by Jonny Wilkinson, is fit and starts at blind-side flanker.

Shanklin's inclusion was logical after he came off the bench and helped Wales come from 19-6 down to win at Twickenham for the first time in 20 years.

Gatland has surprisingly omitted Llanelli Scarlets loose-forward Alix Popham from the squad, while prop Gethin Jenkins remains among the replacements.

Gloucester back-row Gareth Delve takes Popham's place on a bench which also features Cardiff lock Deniol Jones, who was called into the squad on Monday, and fit-again scrum-half Dwayne Peel.

Gatland said: "When you beat England at Twickenham you don't feel the need to make changes to a winning side, but there are areas we think we can improve.

"After reviewing last week's match we've given Mark Jones and Alix Popham a few things to work on and are pleased to offer both Jamie Roberts and Gareth Delve an opportunity.

"Both have been in fine form so far this season. Gareth is capable of coming off the bench to make an impact and we have been pleased with Jamie in training.

"Impact from the bench was important for us last week and we are blessed again with the ability to use the likes of Gethin Jenkins and Matthew Rees if needed.

"We've also been able to name Dwayne Peel there with that thought in mind."

The inclusion of Shanklin ahead of Parker reduces the number of Ospreys in the starting line-up down to 12 from the record 13 that took the field at Twickenham.

Victory over England lifted Wales two places in the world rankings - but Gatland's decision to drop Jones and Popham shows he still needs to look for improvement..

Wales were unimpressive for an hour at Twickenham before ruthlessly punishing a series of English mistakes.

Gatland said: "Scotland will be hurting from their (27-6) defeat to France last week and they will come to Cardiff targeting a win.

"They may feel they will find us in complacent mood after such a great result at Twickenham, but nothing could be further from the truth.

"We enjoyed the win, but 24 hours later we were straight back to business.

"We know we need to improve, Scotland will want to bounce back and we need a better performance this weekend if we are to achieve what we want from the game."

Wales: Lee Byrne; Jamie Roberts, Tom Shanklin, Gavin Henson, Shane Williams; James Hook, Michael Phillips; Ryan Jones (capt), Martyn Williams, Jonathan Thomas; Ian Gough, Ian Evans; Duncan Jones, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones

Replacements: Matthew Rees, Gethin Jenkins, Deniol Jones, Gareth Delve, Dwayne Peel, Stephen Jones, Sonny Parker

Ireland include Leinster duo Jamie Heaslip and Bernard Jackman in their pack in a reshuffled line-up for Saturday's game against France in Paris.

Two of their five changes are positional after the unimpressive 16-11 win over Italy.

After a disappointing first-round exit from last year's World Cup, Ireland's supporters will be hoping for a convincing performance in Paris.

Heaslip comes in at number eight with Denis Leamy switching to blindside flanker and the out-of-form Simon Easterby dropping to the bench.

Hooker Jackman replaces Rory Best, who is relegated to the bench.

Coach Eddie O'Sullivan has selected Andrew Trimble at inside center with Rob Kearney filling the vacancy on the left wing.

Trimble finished the Italy game in the number 12 jersey after Gordon D'Arcy broke an arm.

Leinster's Shane Horgan is a replacement after completing his recovery from a rib injury.

Leicester winger Geordan Murphy has an eye problem and missed training on Tuesday.

O'Sullivan said: "Geordan is seeing an eye specialist this afternoon. The expectation is that he will be fine.

"We decided to give the Leinster guys a run. Their form has been good and we wanted to see how they got on last week after coming off the bench.

"After seeing that it was only fair to give them a start. Both players are ball carriers and that will be beneficial for us in Paris."

O'Sullivan added: "Kearney's inclusion is reward for his display against Italy. He came off the bench and did really well."

Ireland: Girvan Dempsey; Geordan Murphy, Brian O'Driscoll (capt), Andrew Trimble, Robert Kearney; Ronan O'Gara, Eoin Reddan; Jamie Heaslip, David Wallace, Denis Leamy, Malcolm O'Kelly, Doncha O'Callaghan, John Hayes, Bernard Jackman, Marcus Horan

Replacements: Rory Best, Tony Buckley, Mick O'Driscoll, Simon Easterby, Peter Stringer, Paddy Wallace, Shane Horgan

England flanker Tom Rees will miss the rest of the Six Nations championship after his club Wasps confirmed he has suffered a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

And winger David Strettle looks unlikely to feature again in the tournament after Harlequins confirmed he has suffered a hairline fracture to a metatarsal in his left foot. Quins say Strettle will be out of action for between four to eight weeks.

Rees was forced off during the second half of England's shock 26-19 defeat by Wales at Twickenham on Saturday.

England will also be without centre Mike Tindall (bruised liver) and flanker Lewis Moody (Achilles) out of Sunday's game against Italy in Rome.

Tindall remains under observation in a London hospital and is unlikely to play any further part in this season's Six Nations. E-mail to a friend