Ageless Gethin’s on alert for Wales
WALES may be forced to wheel Gethin Jenkins back into their squad next week for a possible Test comeback at the age of 37.
The world’s most-capped prop is due to make a delayed start to the season for Cardiff Blues within the next fortnight, a return of national significance given the uncertainty over one part of the Welsh front row for the Autumn series kicking off against Australia in three weeks.
Head coach Warren Gatland will have no option but to consider rushing Jenkins back in response to the continuing absence of Rob Evans, Wales’ No.1 loosehead for the majority of last season’s Six Nations.
Evans has not played since being concussed three weeks ago and the Scarlets admit they do not know how long the recovery process will take.
Ospreys’ Nicky Smith replaced an injured Evans during the June Tests against Tonga and Samoa. Another Scarlets’ prop, Wyn Jones, came off the bench in both matches.
Gatland will have both in mind as he makes final fitness checks, not least on Jenkins, before naming the Wales squad on Tuesday. The odds may still be against him but the old warrior, 37 on November 17, cannot be discounted.
Jenkins, who played the first of his 134 Tests 15 years ago, has not played since undergoing knee surgery six months ago.
“We had hoped Gethin would be back two weeks ago but he’s definitely on track for the Zebre game on November 3,’’ a Blues official said. “He’ll need a few games to get up to speed but he’ll be raring to go.’’
Gatland will be more immediately concerned with the rift between Rhys Webb and the Wales management over the scrum half ’s anger at falling victim to the new 60-cap rule, as revealed in The Rugby Paper a fortnight ago. Webb having disqualified himself from next season by joining Toulon, Wales will have to decide whether the player, currently nursing a knee injury, is in the right frame of mind for the next game – Australia in Cardiff on November 11.
The 28-year-old Lion has made no attempt to disguise his anger at what he sees as shabby treatment by the WRU, his main employers.
He condemned their action as ‘a disgrace’ and ‘a joke’, saying:
“I’m very disappointed with Welsh rugby right now. I don’t know how long it’s going to take me to get over it.”