Owens defends Leigh after ‘unfair’ criticism

SCARLETS captain Ken Owens has defended Leigh Halfpenny after a summer of criticism during the Lions tour.

The 2013 Lions’ Man of the Series only came off the bench in the first Test and didn’t feature in the second and third of the three Tests during the draw with New Zealand earlier this summer amid question marks over his running game.

Many feel the once-elusive outside-back has seen his attacking threat stagnate in recent years, while some protest that he’s simply a victim of Wales’ game-plan.

A summer that could have been about Halfpenny playing a crucial role in an historic Lions series once again turned out to be a summer of doubts and fault-finding.

However, Owens feels a lot of what was written and said over the summer was unjustified.

“I thought it was hugely unfair,” said Owens.

“Leigh didn’t really put a foot wrong when he played. I thought he played really well on the Lions tour.

“Sometimes selection doesn’t go your way and when you’ve got the likes of Elliot Daly, Liam Williams, Jack Nowell, Anthony Watson – the other back three players – they had good tours as well.

When you’re touring with the Lions, some quality players are going to miss out.

“Leigh will have been hugely frustrated with that and I think he’s just looking forward to hitting the ground running with us and getting the opportunity to play a really exciting brand of rugby.

“He’s champing at the bit to get out on the field.”

One of Wales’ biggest stars spent the summer clubless after the option to extend his deal with Toulon was taken off the table by owner Mourad Boudjellal when Halfpenny joined up with the Lions, missing the conclusion of the Top 14 season.

There appeared to be some indecision from the player as the Cardiff Blues, Scarlets and a number of Aviva Premiership clubs enquired before he eventually signed a National Dual Contract with the Welsh Rugby Union and the West Wales region.

Owens labelled the move bold on the part of the region and the union, and says Halfpenny’s presence will have an impact not just on the present but on the future of the region too.

“When you lose Liam Williams, it leaves a huge void because of the quality of player he is,” he said.

“The region, along with the WRU, have been bold in bringing in a player of Leigh’s quality and experience.

“He’s a world-class full-back in his own right, we’ve swapped one world class full-back for another and he’s brought a huge amount to the squad already.

“His professionalism and the way he is in training rubs off on all the boys. The example he sets to a lot of the young boys will improve them.

“He was out kicking with one of the academy boys and for that young lad to be kicking with the best goalkicker in the world can only develop him for us in a couple of years to come.

“What he adds on and off the field is going to be massive for us as a squad.”

Halfpenny turned up at Parc y Scarlets a week earlier than he was expected, meaning that he could make his debut in the Guinness PRO14 opener against Southern Kings on the first weekend of September.