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Wales blow before Five Nations kick-off

Recent championships have been dominated by Europe's big two, England and France, but this time around fresh optimism has been detected in the Celtic corners of the event.

In 2000 the competition will become the Six Nations, with the introduction of a rapidly improving Italy side.

So there is all to play for this season, as the teams battle it out to go down in the record books as the last winners of the Five Nations.

Scotland v Wales

Welsh hopes of a winning start to their campaign were hit by the 11th-hour withdrawal of British Lions prop David Young from the team to face Scotland at Murrayfield.

Cardiff prop Young tweaked a calf muscle in training Thursday - the latest in a series of injury problems he has suffered this year.

Swansea's Chris Anthony has been promoted from the replacements' bench, with Young's Cardiff colleague Andrew Lewis now joining the Welsh substitutes.

Anthony's promotion means four of Wales' front five forwards will be making their Five Nations debuts.

Young missed both the Autumn Tests against South Africa and Argentina and was brought back by coach Graham Henry to bolster a scrummage obliterated by the Argentinian front row.

Anthony, 22, has only played a handful of games for Swansea this season, having broken his ankle towards the end of last term.

Gary Armstrong is expected to lead Scotland in the Five Nations Championship match against Wales on Saturday.

Scotland are captained by scrumhalf Gary Armstrong, after Bryan Redpath withdrew from the squad on Tuesday with an ankle injury.

The home side are boosted by the New Zealand born brothers John and Martin Leslie.

John partners Gregor Townsend in the centre, while Martin makes his full debut at flanker.

Coach Jim Telfer believes they could make a big impact on the Championship: "They are ingrained in top class rugby and no situation is new to them."

Ireland v France

France, bidding for their third successive Grand Slam, get their title defence underway with a tough trip to Lansdowne Road.

The rejuvenated Irish have identified full-back Emile Ntamack as a man to watch in the French side.

Ntamack, a former flying winger who is a recent convert to the No.15 jersey, has been passed fit to play despite sufferering a recurrence of a knee injury in the victory over Italy last week.

Coach Warren Gatland, said: "We have discussed the Ntamack effect and regard him as the most dangerous French player."

But the Irish also believe Ntamack could be in trouble under the high ball and Ulster fly-half David Humphreys, who has been given the nod ahead of Eric Elwood, will put him under pressure from the off.

Ntamack, however, insists he can cope with the tactic: "There are always high kicks and everybody has to deal with them."

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