Ailing Henson's Cup fear

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Almost six months after completing his last match, the celebrity centre has suffered another in the long line of setbacks which have plagued him since the 2005 Grand Slam victory in Cardiff.

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Henson: doubt

After recovering from a long-term knee problem, his presence against England on August 4 is being undermined by a dodgy achilles tendon.

Head coach Gareth Jenkins, speaking at the launch of Wales' skin-tight World Cup kit, said: '"av's had a difficult couple of weeks with the problem.

"He's frustrated because he isn't able to do the type of training the others have. If I have players I'm not certain about, there's an opportunity for them to do something about it against England. Without doubt, I've a selection headache waiting."

Henson has to be one of the growing uncertainties, not because anyone doubts his lavish ability but because he has barely been seen — on a rugby field — since the Ospreys' match against Ulster on January 27.

Two substitute appearances during the Test series in Australia since then leave him in urgent need of a convincing performance at Twickenham, his only opportunity before the August 14 deadline for naming World Cup squads.

For the last tournament in Australia four years ago, Wales left a fully-fit Henson behind. Given the decision over the phone by then head coach, Steve Hansen, the player, 21 at the time, admitted to feeling "physically sick" at what "felt like the worst news of my life".

He is due to leave with the 40-man squad this weekend for the World Cup base in Brittany after a day of fitness-testing.

Already ruled out of the England game is Ryan Jones, recovering from an "exploratory" operation on the same shoulder which kept him out of the game for almost a year following a reconstruction after returning from New Zealand. He sees a specialist today.