Give Jarrod a run says Priestland
RHYS Priestland has told critics of Wales’ attacking game they don’t know what they’re talking about and has backed Jarrod Evans to be a World Cup star.
Wales wing legend JJ Williams slammed fly-half Dan Biggar after injury ruled Gareth Anscombe out of the tournament in Japan.
Biggar replied with a man-of-the-match performance against England but four-time World Cup legend and former Australian No.9 George Gregan last week became the latest to question Wales’ attacking potency.
He claimed Warren Gatland’s side will struggle to score the number of tries needed to win in Japan, but former Wales No.10 Priestland rubbishes those claims – along with Williams’ criticism of Biggar.
“I find it frustrating watching games in the crowd where everyone thinks they’re an expert,” said 32-year-old Bath playmaker Priestland.
“I speak to a lot of people and I get shocked at what their opinions are and what they’re basing them on. I don’t know where they’ve got it from.
“Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but the game has changed massively since I started playing let alone further back. I know people want to see teams playing with flair and width, but you can’t do it all the time because defences are so good now.
“The contact skills these players have got are awesome. People practice them day in, day out to try and get the ball and slow teams down so you have to come up with new ways of unlocking that.
“You can’t always play this expansive rugby people are calling for. Sometimes you have to do the power stuff. Everyone has an opinion on the way rugby should be played, but the track record the Wales coaches have speaks for itself.”
On Biggar’s contribution Priestland adds: “Dan is an extremely experienced and mentally tough character. He’ll be annoyed at what’s been said, but is it really going to affect him? Probably not.
“The coaches know what they’re doing and I’m sure they’ve got complete confidence in Dan. They’ve won things with him in the past and I’m sure the whole squad are behind him.”
Cardiff Blues playmaker Evans is expected to start Wales’ warm-up against Ireland on Saturday. The 23-year-old has only two caps to his name, but Priestland believes he has the ability to thrive on the Test stage.
“Rhys Patchell and Jarrod are two very good players. Jarrod is a fantastic attacking player and the fact the Blues played Anscombe at full-back to accommodate Jarrod shows how highly they rate him,” he said.
“He’s got an old head on young shoulders so I’m sure if he gets an opportunity, he’ll flourish.
“Wales have been together for two months already and they’ll have had the way they want to play drummed into them. If an inexperienced guy gets the nod at 10 then they will be well prepared.
“If there is a time for Jarrod to start a big international game it would be now on the eve of the World Cup rather than in an autumn Test where they’d only have had a week or two to prepare.”