Byrne to appeal as Welsh lash out at 'scapegoat' ban

Lee Byrne will appeal against the two-week ban which would rule him out of Wales's Six Nations' Champion-ship opener against England on Saturday. Warren Gatland, the coach, has cancelled today's team announcement and will wait until Byrne's fate is decided before naming his starting XV for Twickenham.

A Welsh Rugby Union statement revealed: "The player has been taking legal advice and will lodge the necessary documents for the appeal no later than Monday." The resulting European Rugby Cup hearing might not be convened until Wednesday, but Gatland is expected to conduct training in the next few days as if the suspension will be overturned.

There was a general sense of shock and anger at the Welsh team hotel yesterday as the verdict of Friday's disciplinary panel in Dublin continued to sink in. So confident was Byrne of escaping sanction for his role in the farcical events at the climax of the Ospreys' victory over Leicester last Saturday that he did not travel to Ireland for the hearing.

At the Liberty Stadium, Byrne had left the pitch suffering from a bloodied toe. He was replaced by Sonny Parker, but ran back on three minutes later without any team-mate going off. He did plead guilty to a misconduct charge, but he did not expect to be given a ban. As Shane Williams, his Ospreys and Wales team-mate, said yesterday: "It seems a very tough call. The game was so quick even I didn't realise what was happening. People do look for blame somewhere and unfortu-nately Lee is at the brunt of it."

This feeling of injustice runs throughout the Welsh camp. The belief is that Byrne has been made a scapegoat for the inadequacies of the officials involved. Said one insider: "Anybody who was there or has watched the coverage would have seen Lee being told to run back on, and as a player he does what he is told. Yet he's taking the blame."

Their mood will not be helped by Byrne's ban having been instigated by a complaint from the English champions. Leicester had hoped for the do-or-die Heineken Cup group match to be replayed. But last year's finalists must now accept they will not be featuring in the quarter-finals. Instead, the Ospreys will play Biarritz, and they will be mighty relieved to be doing so. The irony is that they will travel to France with Byrne and it will be Wales who may suffer.

Byrne's importance to Wales should not be underestimated. If the ban is upheld – meaning that Byrne would not be available until the Scotland game the following weekend – James Hook would likely be switched to No 15, with another Osprey, Andrew Bishop, taking Hook's place in the midfield alongside Jamie Roberts.

That would be a simple juggling act, but it would be far from ideal. England would certainly be delighted not to have the Lion in opposition.

"Lee would be gutted to miss the first game and Wales will miss him," said Williams. "Lee has been playing really well since coming back. He's been in top form."

Indeed, the current confidence in the Welsh set-up is in no small part down to Byrne's impressive displays in his three starts since recovering from a foot injury. Despite Hook's versatility, Byrne was obviously missed in the autumn Tests.

"What does Lee bring?" asked Rob Howley, the Wales skills coach, in the week. "Experience, world-class attri-butes. Lee has been the outstanding full-back in the northern hemisphere and he deserved his chance to play in the first Lions Test against South Africa. His aerial prowess, his left foot, his attacking mind and his defence – I think that he is the most rounded full-back in world rugby."

He is certainly the most disappointed at the moment. Twickenham holds a special place in Byrne's affections, as he told The Independent on Sunday last week. "It was where the good times began for me," he said. "That win in 2008 really kick-started my career. When I think of Twickenham I think of that corner where I scored my try." When asked if Wales could extend their Six Nations run over England to four games, he replied: "There isn't anything for us to fear. Look at our team. Man for man we're better players."

Wales: One to watch

Leigh Halfpenny Much as it is tempting and fun to fling players into international rugby straight out of nappies with barely a pause for a wet-wipe, there are not many kids – by which we mean, to be precise, teenagers – who have handled it. Halfpenny was one last season, sashaying confidently from the Wales Under-20 side to Six Nations tries against England and Scotland. He is 21 now and already into double figures in caps. He is also quick, brave and unflappable. The prospect of the Cardiff Blues wing skewering England next week with his nose for the goalline – or perhaps his handily reliable long-range kicking – is a lipsmackingly tasty one for the Welsh.