Wales interim head coach Rob Howley has backed the Welsh scrum to have a "huge influence" in the upcoming Six Nations.
Howley was without Lions prop Adam Jones and Exeter Chiefs prop Craig Mitchell during the November Internationals, but believes their return and the experience of his front row could hand his side a major advantage.
"We have gone through a November series with injuries to key personnel during the opening 20-25 minutes, which is going to have an influence if your player base isn't large compared to other nations," said Howley.
"We see it as opportunity to give players who are young and talented - the likes of James King and Andrew Coombs - but it's also good to welcome back the likes of Craig Mitchell and Adam Jones, meaning there's a good level of balance and experience in our front-row which can be a focal part of our Six Nations campaign.
"We missed Adam during the November internationals. He's probably one of the best tightheads in world rugby and from what I've seen of the scrum, it will have a huge influence. It's great to have strength in depth in that area."
One of those young and talented players is Eli Walker, with Howley highlighting his differing abilites compared to other giant Welsh wingers Alex Cuthbert and George North.
"Over the last two years we have given young talent the opportunity, with Leigh Halfpenny and George North to name just two players involved. Eli Walker is an extremely gifted player," added Howley.
"With his ability to beat players on the inside or outside, many people will describe him as Shane Williams-esque, but I also think that he is comfortable on the ball, works hard coming in off the wing. George and Alex Cuthbert are two physical wings and Eli offers something different."
Wales captain Sam Warburton admitted that he was happy to play anywhere across the back-row given the good form of Ospreys openside Justin Tipuric in recent weeks.
The Blues flanker also stated that despite the seven-game losing streak following the Six Nations, he took great confidence coming into the tournament as champions and insisted that Welsh rugby was not "down the pan."
"I would be more than happy to play anywhere in the back-row with Wales," said Warburton.
"I've covered six and eight already - when I first started I played six alongside Martyn Williams and it has worked well at the Blues with myself and Josh Navidi.
"It's a really nice feeling coming in as reigning champions and I take great confidence from that. We might not have done so well results wise since, particularly against Australia where those results could have gone our way, but in the Six Nations we won some matches by a whisker so that is the fine line in international rugby.
"The losing run was difficult. I felt we contained Australia right up until they scored in the 81st minute in our last game. I felt in control and that we played well, apart from that last minute. We have learnt from it but it's not going to effect the way we play and our confidence.
"You don't become a bad side overnight. People are talking about Welsh rugby as though it's gone down the pan, but it's easily recoverable. We might have lost seven matches in a row but some of those have been really tight with good performances.
"It has taught me that I don't like losing. When I came in as captain things were on the up, not just for myself but a lot of the squad and it has taken experienced players such as Ryan Jones to tell us that it's not all doom and gloom."
by Ben Coles
@bencoles_
Comments
melkdave says...
@Makemehappy
Because it wasnt under pressure ,they even managed to take welsh ball in 2 games,
Posted 13:03 26th January 2013
makemehappy says...
@meldave - we're all entitled to our opinions, but why are you the only person on the planet who didn't think the Aussie scrum was under pressure?
Posted 11:14 26th January 2013
melkdave says...
@Jontheref
I read the articals ,and i do support Wales as my 2nd team,but im getting tired of the excuses.If you remember i was saying last summer ,Wales had a fantastic chance for a series win in Australia ect.What did we get 3 performances lacking in intensity,with little or no real penatration of the defencive line,no dominance in any set piece ,in fact Wales lost the lineout completely.So yeah i was scathing of Wales then ,they deserved it,as they let a great oppotunity slip though their fingers.Then come the aurtum internationals ,and i posted on howi thought it was wrong for Warburton ,and Preitland and others ,to even be in the squad ,as they where out of form and performing badly.What was the result of this policy another whitewash.So we come to the present and the looming 6Ns ,and what do i read from RH.The welsh scrum is going to be a major weapon ,as A.Jones is back basically.The same A.Jones who didnt perform imo,in the summer ,and offers absolutly nothing in the loose and Warburton being picked a capt again ,even though his still not in form along with M.Rees,is it any wonder i dont feel very confident ,Even though if you read the McBride thread im hoping he gets his response.I want Wales to do well i honestly do,but im tired of the excuses just like many welsh fans.
Posted 10:29 25th January 2013
makemehappy says...
@jontheref - I do think Melkdave reads the article, as his comments do contain evidence of filtered excrement, in all fairness to him!! :)
Posted 07:09 25th January 2013
jmehrtens says...
"we played really well until ..../except for ...minutes."
"the scoreline doesn't do us justice/tells the whole story"
"we were in control until...."
"we deserved more from this/these game(s)"
It has all been used please come up with new excuses.
Posted 03:59 25th January 2013
jontheref says...
makemehappy,
melkdave decides what he is going to write, before he reads the article.
Why let a set rant be influenced by the truth or facts?
Howlers is one of the main reasons Wales has been so poor, no sense in selection, and no picking form players.
If Priestland was available, he would be the first on the team sheet! despite having a run of TEN poor games for wales.
Two of the losses to Aus were down to him kicking, when the ball should have been kept to kill the game.
It even got to Priestland, who admitted to seeing a sports therapist/psychologist to sort himself out!
I feel for the guy, being a poorly performing 10 in wales is probably the worst gig in Rugby!
melkdave pretends he suporst Wlaes, but always has the knife out without giving sensible workable options.
he certainly knows nothing of the Welsh pshyce, apart from a day trip to Barmouth where it rained all day, and the curry and chips came up on the bus home!
Posted 23:18 24th January 2013
makemehappy says...
@melkdave - we watched a different series. He gained considerable dominance in the summer against the Aussies. Must admit you are the only person who has stated otherwise.
Posted 18:31 24th January 2013
melkdave says...
Ok Wales mised A.Jones in the Aurtum ,but to be brutal,he offers nothing outside of the scrum,and imo,is overrated there aswell.He was terrible in the summer against Australia,and didnt gain any dominace against them at all in the scrum.M.Rees is also not playing well his lineout throwing this season is as bad as ive ever seen ,and again in the scrum his offering nothing.While G.Jenkins cant even get gametime at Toulon atm.That coupled with new locks ,and RH thinks the welsh scrum is going to be weapon this 6Ns.Dont know where RH is living atm ,but it isnt on planet Earth thats for sure.As to Wales not being a bad team atm,again 7 losses thoughout the year,cant be considered good by any standard,not even the tier 2 countries have suffered that many continous losses ths year.Pick players on form not reputation for a start RH ,that means no Warburton or J.Roberts ,M.Phillips for a start in the squad and maybe just maybe Wales will surprise us all again this year asthey did at the RWC.
Posted 16:30 24th January 2013
three6three6 says...
This 6 Nations is going to be much closer than last year. Any talk from the Wales Camp will need to be supported by the players on the pitch.... I think that there may have been too many disruptions for Wales to put any half decent performances together. Look at all the those players that have transferred away from the Welsh Regions... and then the long term injuries to key players. This will be a real test of character for the Men-in-Red. I sincerely hope that I am wrong!
Posted 16:29 24th January 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
I don't see any moves from Wales to turn the ship around. Looks like they are putting all their faith in the returning injured and a skilful new winger. They're a couple of injuries away from a desperate situation. Not going to Poland is the only attempt to try something different that I have noticed.
Posted 13:44 24th January 2013
makemehappy says...
@Highside UK - two of the daftest questions ever posted! As a Welshman, I'd suggest any Englishman is rather naive to make such a posting!
Posted 13:11 24th January 2013
whatisthis says...
Firstly excuses, excuses, excuses. fair enough adam jones is a massive loss but mentioning craig mitchell (10 caps, 4 as a sub) is ridiculous. just take it on the chin howley. wales were crap and not just down to injuries. how is there a small playing pool. there are 4 professional teams with many good players playing in the top 14 and aviva. it is the countries number 1 sport is it not?? obviously not as there are only 50000 registered players in wales. how can that be? What sport are they playing instead? You couldn't even fill the millenium stadium with that.
lets face it the main reason wales lost all those games is poor coaching (i.e. not being able to close out games) and complete lack of form of their captain(he said it himself, he can't even get the number 7 jersey with cardiff). hes not a 6 or 8 either. if warburton isnt turning over ball, hes not playing well.
anyway i rant. Wales might just be in trouble in the future. they need to drop to 3 teams and start competing in the HC which keeps people interested all year round and runs with the season of the amateur clubs giving them a reason to go to their local club. the 6N seems just an excuse for a sing song on February/March. No good at the start of the season and no good come May either(Yes i know Ospreys won the Rabo last year) there are more clubs in wales than ireland , 250 v 221,but a third the player numbers 50k v 153k.
Posted 12:42 24th January 2013
99call says...
He has a point you dont become a bad side overnight but you can become a bad side over the space of nearly a year, the displays in Aus in the spring were not bad and they ran the Aussies close in all of the tests which is not easy in their own backyard, but the displays since then have been terrible and showed that the side has not moved forward in any department of the game.
Their problem IMO comes from poor performances from badly coached regions and players who've moved to france who arent even getting a starting spot, theres no confidence in the side no leadership, and i dont point the finger at Warburton as its obvious hes in over his head I point the finger and the established players like Ryan Jones, Jamie Roberts, Mike Phillips who should be tearing these guys a new one and leading by example and not just saying "its not all doom and gloom" sorry if youre welsh it is all doom and gloom
So as HighsideUK says the words should be the
"the losing run is difficult" not was and I dont think you can use the term overnight as you cant call nearly a year overnight
Posted 11:37 24th January 2013
HighsideUK says...
The state of the Welsh team has got so bad that even this Englishman doesn't want to see the puppy kicked any more. But I hope Warburton's remarks are misquoted or out of context because otherwise he is in cloud-cukoo land.
"The losing run was difficult."
Why the past tense?
"You don't become a bad side overnight."
Overnight? When does he think was the last time Wales played well?
Posted 10:21 24th January 2013