Best Leigh can hope for is place among the benchmen

LEIGH Halfpenny has been too good for too long to waste time sitting on the bench, a position he last occupied as a squad player in the Six Nations at Twickenham more than nine years ago.

A specialist wing back then trying to force his way into the remnants of the 2008 Grand Slam setup, he kicked his heels for more than an hour before replacing Tom James in a lost cause. At Murrayfield next Saturday, Halfpenny ought to have no qualms about being one of the 23.

His weekend comeback safely negotiated after a three-month absence, the Scarlets’ full-back can hardly expect to reclaim the No.15 jersey as part of the starting line-up for the fourth act in the latest Welsh Grand Slam drama.

Liam Williams’ majestic contribution to Wales’ crunching home win over England ends any debate over who plays full-back, for the time being at the very least. The best Halfpenny can hope for is to be on hand providing full-back-wing cover.

In that event, George North had better look to his laurels. Josh Adams’ swift graduation from the depths of the Premiership at Worcester into a high-class Test wing leaves North needing to hit top form as immunity against losing his place.

Wales have gone haywire at Murrayfield before, as Alun-Wyn Jones knows only too well. As captain he was at the centre of a public disagreement on the last visit there two years ago when first Halfpenny, then Dan Biggar refused instructions by opting to kick for the corner instead of the posts.

Wales, three points down at the time, fell away towards the end and lost by a street, 29-13. Even in the unlikely event of the Scots being reunited with all their wounded backs, the only unbeaten team in the tournament ought to have enough power to keep winning.