Wales rugby captain Ryan Jones out of Six Nations decider against England INJURED: Wales captain Ryan Jones will miss the showdown with England. WALES have been dealt a blow in the build-up to the title-deciding Six Nations clash with England with captain Ryan Jones to miss the match because of a shoulder injury. Jones, who has captained his country a record 32 times, hurt his shoulder in the weekend win over Scotland at Murrayfield and had to go off in the second half. Ryan is not going to be available. He has broken a bone in his shoulder and he is now under the management of the Ospreys," said assistant coach Robin McBryde. It looks as though he will be out for six to eight weeks. Sam Warburton, who led Wales to the Grand Slam last year, is expected to regain leadership duties against England at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday. Justin Tipuric is expected to be called up to play at openside flanker, with Warburton wearing the number six shirt. England are bidding to win their first Grand Slam since 2003 but Wales can pip them to the Six Nations title if they win by eight points or more. CONCESSION: Ireland fullback Rob Kearney says Wales's Leigh Halfpenny has moved ahead of him in the pecking order for Lions selection. Ireland fullback Rob Kearney concedes he has slipped behind Wales' Leigh Halfpenny in their Lions duel after struggling to showcase his attacking skills in the Six Nations. The Celtic rivals are expected to embark on the tour to Australia but it is Halfpenny who has a potentially unassailable lead in the race to win the number 15 jersey for the Test series. The 24-year-old's goalkicking and successive man of the match displays against France and Italy have been instrumental in hauling Wales into title contention heading into the final weekend. Kearney won three Lions caps in South Africa four years ago, but could yet miss out on the tour altogether should coach Warren Gatland prefer Scotland's Stuart Hogg. Events have conspired against the 2012 European player of the year, who has been playing in a team decimated by injury against opposition that have worked out it is best to keep the ball out of his hands. Leigh's goalkicking alone has made him the standout fullback of the Six Nations. Wales have won a huge amount of games with his kicking skills," Kearney said. For me it's quite frustrating because receiving kicks was always a great way to get into games, get some ball and display my strengths. That's something I've definitely struggled with throughout this campaign. Saturday's clash with Italy presents a final chance to impress Gatland on the international stage, but the 26-year-old believes the Kiwi will look beyond the Six Nations to inform his opinion. Ireland enter the final weekend locked in a three-way battle to escape a first wooden spoon since 1998, although victory could be enough to seal a third-place finish. My message to the team going to Rome is 'win'. There's a big difference between finishing third and finishing sixth. That's a big jump there," Kearney said. France centre Maxime Mermoz, dropped from the side after the second Six Nations defeat to Wales, insists he has not fallen out with coach Philippe Saint-Andre. There's no misunderstanding. I've got my ideas but the selectors made their choice and I respect them," the Toulon player said in an interview with AFP. Patrice (Lagisquet, Saint-Andre's assistant) tried to call me but I was ill and I didn't reply. You can give any excuse but it's up to me to prove my worth and work hard," he added. Mermoz said given France's plight - rock bottom of the Six Nations table and playing this weekend to avoid the humiliation of four defeats in the tournament - it was more important to focus on turning around the side's fortunes than his own. The 26-year-old, capped 24 times for Les Bleus, played in the World Cup final against New Zealand and was in the side for the Six Nations defeats to Italy (23-18) and Wales (16-6). Against Italy, there was a sense of a lack of ambition. Against Wales, defensively I did my job. In attack, when you are the outside centre, it's not easy to take the initiative. You're up against it. "Against England, there were counter-attacks, which wasn't the case against Italy and Wales," added Mermoz, attributing the side's current woes to too many matches that had left players "mentally worn-out" before even the start of the Six Nations.