Roberts vows to solve crisis

Martin Roberts, who is all set to make his Wales bow on Friday against Canada, has vowed to resolve his side's current scrum-half crisis.

Martin Roberts, who is all set to make his Wales bow on Friday against Canada, has vowed to resolve his side's current scrum-half crisis.

With Wales playing Australia, their last game of the November series, they will do so with the possibility of being without both Dwayne Peel and Gareth Cooper – both who ply their trade in England and are not automatically released for that game.

And with Roberts, who was fourth choice at the Ospreys last season, making his debut against Canada there is every possibility he could be called upon again before the month is out.

Whilst Roberts is hoping to do well enough to gain selection next weekend, he now seems certain to be involved against Australia, with the ongoing dispute between the WRU and the English clubs who Peel and Cooper play for.

Now with the Scarlets, Roberts has played more regularly this season, and is now reaping the rewards for a consistent run in the side.

And with Gatland claiming Roberts could well play in the next two games there is a huge incentive for the young number nine to take his chance on Friday

“If nothing is sorted by the Australia game, happy days, I get the chance to play,” Roberts told The Western Mail.

“If I have a great game against Canada then I will, hopefully, put my hand up for selection against New Zealand.

“When you get the opportunity to play, you take it with two hands. It's these type of opportunities you have to grasp. Hopefully, I can do that against Canada.”

Even Roberts can't believe his rise to the top, from Principality Premiership rugby with Neath a year ago to starting for Wales, knowing he may well get a second cap soon enough.

Having realised opportunities at the Ospreys were going to become increasingly limited the former Neath College product moved west to the Scarlets at the end of last season. But at present the prospect of making his Wales debut is all a little surreal.

“The Wales cap has come very quickly,” smiled Roberts.

“If I look back a few months ago, I was getting an odd game here and there with the Ospreys and things weren't looking promising.

“The move to the Scarlets has helped and I must have played well enough for them to be recognised.

“It is just about getting the opportunity to play regular rugby.

“When you play once every couple of games you sense as if you have to go out and impress the whole time.

“But when you know you are going to get a regular run of matches, you can play your own game. You don't feel pressured into trying to impress the coach.”

The first thing Roberts was asked to do upon signing for the Scarlets was to write down his goals, which coach Nigel Davies went through with him.

“When I sat down with Nigel at the start of the season, he said, 'Where do you want to place yourself in a few months' time'?” explained Roberts.

“I replied, 'first choice with the Scarlets and pushing for the Wales development tour at the end of the season'.

“Obviously, things have happened nice and fast. Within three months of the start of the season, I am already in the Wales squad and playing on Friday! So it's come quicker than I thought. Hopefully, I will do it justice against Canada.

“It would have been difficult to go and play against Australia, one of the best teams in the world, without having played for Wales in a previous match.

“I'd like to get my foot in first. Obviously playing against Canada will only help that.”

Roberts hopes to follow the lead of fellow rookies, number eight Andy Powell and teenage winger Leigh Halfpenny, in making an immediate mark for Wales on his debut.

“Leigh and 'Powelly' were awesome so it can be done. Hopefully, their performances can be emulated and I make a name for myself.”