Scarlets hooker Matthew Rees believes Wales' young props can replace injured tighthead prop Adam Jones during the upcoming international season.
Jones has been ruled out of Wales' Tests against Argentina, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia with a knee injury.
Although Wales caretaker coach Rob Howley could switch Bath loosehead Paul James across the scrum as Jones' replacement, but he could opt to play Aaron Jarvis, Scott Andrews or Samson Lee in the number three jersey against the Pumas on November 10.
"We have props who can play both sides of the scrum, with Paul James and Gethin Jenkins both able to move over, and it will be up to the coaches when it comes to selection," Rees told Press Association Sport.
"But I can certainly see one of these youngsters coming through and getting to the next level over the next three or four weeks.
"Adam is a loss, but we have got three pretty good players there waiting in the wings at the moment, and the challenge for them now is to kick on and impress the coaches and take their chance when it comes.
"The only thing they may lack is experience at international level, but there is no better place for them to get that than in this November series when you look at the fixture list."
Rees, who is a former Wales captain, is not certain of being named in the Howley's starting XV as he faces stiff competition from Ospreys hooker Richard Hibbard and Scarlets colleague Ken Owens.
"It's great to have competition for places," Rees added.
"I've got Ken at the Scarlets, and we both push each other hard, and with Richard playing well for the Ospreys we are all fighting for that jersey."
"We were all disappointed with how things went in Australia, but we have the opportunity now to climb that ladder again and get up the world rankings to where we feel we belong," Rees said.
"We feel that we are close, within touching distance.
"If we continue to prepare well and make sure we are competitive against these top teams, keep the errors down and maybe be just be a bit smarter, then we know the big wins will come.
"We are not far away. We know we can do it, and it all starts against the Pumas in 10 days' time."
Comments
melkdave says...
I think we can safely assume that ,Wales starting props will be James and Jenkins.They are playing against Argentina lets remember ,a side renowned for its scrum,and frontrow prowess.A side also not that far behind them in the IRB rankings.I dought Wales will want to try a untested frontrow in such a match.If it was against Australia yes then Wales maybe tempted ,but not against Argentina
Posted 15:57 31st October 2012