Ward to return to the front line and forget those days as a jackal

DAVE Ward knows his days in the Harlequins back row are coming to end but he is determined to enjoy them.

Given his ‘jackaling’ abilities at the breakdown, the hooker is John Kingston’s third choice openside and often wore the No.7 jersey in the AngloWelsh Cup to give Chris Robshaw and Luke Wallace a break.

But with the pair injured since the start of the year, Ward has started eight of Quins’ last nine games in the back row and he was also named captain.

Taking a break from the scrum has been enjoyable but he is now looking over his shoulder with both Wallace and Robshaw close to returning.

Ward told TRP: “I played openside a lot when younger and it’s not that different from the way I play when I’m at hooker.

“Moving to the back row or vice versa is probably the easiest switch to do. There are a lot of similarities like where you stand in the defensive line so it’s relatively easy to adapt.

“I haven’t done many scrums in recent weeks so my neck is feeling a little bit better but my lungs certainly aren’t. There’s a lot more running involved.

“Luke keeps thanking me for keeping his shirt warm while I keep reminding Chris how good he’s looking at blindside. Let’s just say I’m looking over my shoulder.”

Once back in the front row, Ward, 31,

below, will pack down alongside Kyle Sinckler and he reckons the abrasive tighthead has a chance of touring New Zealand with the Lions because “the All Blacks wouldn’t know how to play him”.

Dan Cole, along with Wales’ Samson Lee, Ireland’s Tadhg Furlong and Scotland’s WP Nel, should all be included but Ward wouldn’t rule out Sinckler especially if Warren Gatland is looking for something different.

“I think they’ll only take four tightheads so making the Lions will be touch and go for Kyle. But one thing certain is that he’s got something they haven’t – out-and-out explosiveness.

“If Gatland is looking for a tighthead to come on and do more than secure the scrum then Kyle could have a chance. That turnover he won against Wales on the last play was just outstanding.

“The All Blacks wouldn’t know how to play him because they wouldn’t have seen a tighthead like him.

“Then it comes down to actually playing because he’d also learn a lot from starting for England in Argentina. The Pumas have a great scrum so that would be a great experience for him.”

Quins travel to Exeter today in the Anglo-Welsh Cup last four for their last chance to celebrate the club’s 150th anniversary with a trophy.

Ward said: “We’re only 80 minutes from a final at the Stoop and we don’t want to see two other teams compete for a trophy on our home ground.

“We’re out of the Challenge Cup, our Premiership hopes are hanging by a thread if we’re honest so the Anglo-Welsh is our last chance.

“We’re one of four teams still in the running so we’re determined to give it a good go. But it won’t be easy as Exeter are a very good team and I thought their first half performance in Leicester last weekend was the best of any team this

season.”