Ryan Jones and Leigh Halfpenny to miss Wales clash with Australia

Wales have suffered a double injury blow ahead of the autumn internationals. Last season's captain, Ryan Jones, has been ruled out of the first game with Australia, while Leigh Halfpenny will miss all the matches because of ankle ligament damage. Jones, who has suffered a torn calf muscle, will be replaced as captain by the Lions hooker Matthew Rees. The Newport winger Aled Brew will stand in for Halfpenny, who suffered ankle ligament damage on Friday in Cardiff's match against Scarlets. Yesterday Lee Byrne was ruled out of the first three autumn internationals after fracturing a bone in his hand. He will be replaced by the Cardiff Blues winger Chris Czekaj, while the Scarlets back-row forward Rob McCusker has withdrawn from the squad to undergo a hernia operation. Wales' first international is against Australia on 6 November, with matches against South Africa, Fiji and New Zealand to follow on 13, 19 and 27 November. It is unclear whether Jones will be fit for the later games but the injury makes his participation doubtful.