Pivac tips his grafter Jones to fill Wales’ prop void

SCARLETS boss Wayne Pivac has backed prop Wyn Jones to star for Wales next month.

Rob Evans’ concussion problems and Gethin Jenkins’ long-term absence have left head coach Warren Gatland with a selection headache at loosehead.

Jones could yet be the man to benefit after winning his first two senior international caps against Tonga and Samoa in the summer.

The 25-year-old’s main rival for the clashes with Australia, Georgia, New Zealand and South Africa is Ospreys Nicky Smit, but Pivac believes Jones is ready for the big stage.

“Wyn had the call up at the end of last season when Rob was unavailable and I don’t think too much has changed in Welsh rugby since then,” he said.

“Whenever he has been given opportunities down here he has displayed some good scrummaging and he’s been good around the field. I think his game is improving all the time.

“He played for 77 minutes against Toulon and most of the game against the Ospreys. That’s not anything against Dylan Evans, it’s just Wyn was playing so well at the time.

“He wasn’t falling behind the speed of the game, the scrum was going well and we were being disciplined in that area so we left him out there.

“His fitness is a big tick in the box at the moment.”

Jones’ rise to international level has been unique. Unlike most professionals these days, the 18 stone prop didn’t come through a regional academy system. Instead he was picked up by the Scarlets after some impressive displays for Llandovery in the Principality Premiership.

“Wyn was very much a young player that had come straight off the farm,” said Pivac. “He hadn’t done a lot of gym work, but he had a lot of natural strength. He’s combined that with a lot of hard work over the past three seasons and we’re seeing the benefits of that now.

“When I got here he was in our development group, but he’s worked hard physically to get into the shape needed to play at this level.”