Andy Powell has been cast into the international wilderness by coach Warren Gatland © Getty Images

We've all read the details by now. The golf buggy, the M4, the service station, the police, the breath test, the apology, the possible end of an international career. Andy Powell's act of stupidity has done what little else can - made the English newspapers realise that Wales occasionally play rugby when England aren't involved.

For three days the tabloids were awash with outrage at the actions of the Wales flanker. As the story wore on we got the damning evidence of the Under Armour-branded pants in the back of the golf cart, and then there was that dodgy Facebook photo showing Powell clearly hammered, his shirt half undone and seemingly missing a trouser leg - it was riveting stuff.

It painted a pretty clear picture of the tone of Powell's Saturday night celebrating the big part he'd played in Scotland nearly winning at the Millennium Stadium. And what a relief it must have been to Warren Gatland. He didn't have to pull the trigger - Powell had pulled the lever of his own trap-door with a moment of pure, old-school stupidity and spared him having to admit he was wrong and drop him.

If the Blues man hadn't gotten arrested and charged (the wonderfully Victorian-sounding 'Operating a motorised vehicle while unfit through drink') in the wee hours of Sunday morning, then Gatland would no doubt have faced even more criticism at his selection policy. As it is, Buggygate has diverted attention from Wales' hopeless 70-minute performance on Saturday and given the Kiwi two weeks to take stock and attempt to right the increasingly massive list of wrongs.

But once again injuries haven't made his task straightforward - Gethin Jenkins' 10-minute cameo before a recurrence of his calf injury is a massive worry, we'll need him against a monster French pack. And then there was the news that Alun-Wyn Jones will miss up to 12 weeks with a chipped bone and damaged ligaments in his elbow. Those who were calling for the Ospreys lock to be dropped after his moment of madness against England should keep an eye on how much we miss him for the last three games and promptly keep their traps shut.

But it's not all doom and gloom. With Powell gone, Jon Thomas should get back to his rightful position at six - he only plays lock at the Ospreys because he's necessary to make the lineout function, but he's not going to be preferred to Jerry Collins is he? With a proper balance in the back row, with any luck Martyn Williams will start making a nuisance of himself again. That said, being the massive worrier that I am, the first thing I thought when I heard Powell was dropped was "Well there goes our only other fit No.8 in the squad" - Sam Warburton might be an okay stop-gap, but let's all pray Ryan stays fit eh?

With Thomas moved, there should surely be a place in the squad for Ian Gough (there'd be a starting berth if it was up to me). While the veteran hasn't played much this season, he does the ugly stuff, and he always, always does the basics well - something Wales have struggled with of late. Plus with Bradley Davies and Gough in the second row, the Welsh pack would have the beef to front up to the French.

Finally, things are even looking up on the scrum-half front. For starters, professional backline sedative Gareth Cooper has been released to play for the Blues this weekend, indicating that he's finally been cast out from Gatland's affections. And then there's the intriguing issue of both Dwayne Peel and Mike Phillips making comebacks from their respective injuries this weekend. No disrespect to Richie Rees, but if either or both the Lions duo make it through unscathed I'd have them back in the squad by Monday morning - they're a class apart from what we have at the moment.

So, it's a real mixed bag on the news front as the Wales team enjoy their week off. Gatland finally seems to have come to the same conclusions that everyone else has regarding his team selection, albeit a week or two too late, but injuries, form and the spectre of the mighty French hang a long cloud over proceedings. Here's hoping the weather perks up by next week.

Josh Gardner