The flank forward Charvis proved the most serious of the losses to Wales because England won in the front five

Long before last Saturday morning - in fact as soon as the Welsh team was announced - I decided against having the double on France and Wales that I had proclaimed in a previous column. About France I was confident, but about Wales I had increasing doubts. The replacement of an injured Arwel Thomas by Jonathan Davies was, I thought, more than a fair exchange. But I did not think the side could survive the loss of Ieuan Evans, Scott Gibbs and, most of all, Colin Charvis.

Evans still has the knack of scoring tries, even at his advanced age, though he would have been hard put to it to cross the line once on Saturday: his replacement, Simon Hill, did not receive a single pass. Gibbs would have disrupted England's midfield more effectively than anyone else and might have put something together with Allan Bateman (who nevertheless had another good game despite Gibbs' absence).

But the loss of Charvis, the discovery of the season - even though he is not in the preliminary Lions party - was the most serious. It meant that Wales' forward thrust depended mainly on Scott Quinnell, and secondarily on Gareth Llewellyn. England would still have won, because they won in the front five, and Charvis is a flanker.

Throughout the season I have had doubts about Kevin Bowring's selection policy in this area. Now is as good a time as any to air them. To begin with, why is Craig Quinnell always the lock who comes on as a substitute three-quarters of the way through the second half? Why can he not for once be given a full game as Llewellyn's partner?

Then there is the front row. Garin Jenkins, though something of a walking provocation, is still I think the superior of Jonathan Humphreys. The captaincy would in Humphreys' absence be assumed by Gibbs. David Young has made a commendable return to rugby union but, despite my prejudice in favour of former league players, John Davies looks better as a tight- head.

Indeed, front row forwards are the only former league players who do not return to the union game as better performers. This is because they have been compelled to spend their time not scrummaging but instead standing virtually upright while the scrum-half bounces the ball off the outside leg of the loose-head prop. The strongest Welsh front row would consist of Davies, Jenkins and Lyndon Mustoe (who can play on either side). It is surprising that Bowring has been unable to see this.

Nor is the No 6 possession at all satisfactory. Steve Williams, Hemi Taylor and Dale McIntosh are all by preference No 8s. The last two (of whom McIntosh came on as a substitute against England) are not Welsh at all but New Zealanders. However, they are better players than the sitting tenant, Williams.

There are also big holes on both wings. Evans cannot go on forever, even if he is fully fit, which unhappily he rarely is. The left wing position remains a difficult problem, as it has always tended to be in Wales. Dafydd James had a wretched game against Ireland, while Gareth Thomas - who, like James, is really a centre anyway - has fared little better, and on Saturday showed distressing signs in such a big chap of what the RAF used to call lack of moral fibre. Wayne Proctor might do better, which admittedly is not saying much.

He could scarcely do worse than he did as a full-back. It is not his fault. He is by nature and training a very fast wing; as quick, probably, as Tony Underwood. When Neil Jenkins went off, Bowring was lucky that Davies could take over the goal-kicking. He should also have had a proper full-back in position. Why is Justin Thomas out of favour? Why was Mike Rayer discarded as peremptorily as he was?

It is not as if Bowring is overwhelmed by a profusion of talent. He has a nucleus of very good players: Jenkins, Bateman, Gibbs, Robert Howley, the Quinnell brothers and Charvis. Scotland have fewer: Alan Tait, Ken Logan, Gregor Townsend and Rob Wainwright. Ireland have Jeremy Davidson.

I hope Jenkins's arm mends in time for the Lions trip and that Charvis is belatedly added to Fran Cotton's list. Cotton ought certainly to add several English names, though Phil de Glanville may yet be unlucky if the centres are Tait, Bateman, Gibbs and Jeremy Guscott. In any event, the party looks like being composed predominantly of Englishmen. No one could say this would be unfair.

It has been an excellent Five Nations competition, not least for me. I had a double on France and Wales on the opening Saturday, and backed France for the championship at 15-8. Afterwards I did not place any more bets. Knowing when to stop: that, I conclude smugly, is the secret, which presumably demonstrates that I am not a proper gambler at all.