Wyn, Ken get Lions boost from Mcgeechan
SCARLETS front-rowers Wyn Jones and Ken Owens have been included in Sir Ian Mcgeechan’s Lions XV of the week.
Jones rose to the scrum challenge of Ireland’s Andrew Porter and offered a key carrying contribution as well as achieving a turnover, while his regional team-mate Owens excelled around the field despite Welsh line-out woes.
Louis Rees-zammit is the only other Welsh player in a team loaded with Scots after their historic win over England at Twickenham.
The 20-year-old Rees-zammit came up with the finish of the Six Nations weekend when he scored in the 21-16 win over the Irish, keeping his eyes fixed on the spot where he touched down as he showed lightning speed off the mark and acrobatic skill to make the score.
Former Wales captain and fly-half Jonathan Davies later suggested no-one else in Wayne Pivac’s squad would have scored the try the youngster came up with against Ireland, while Welsh rugby’s boy wonder also coped with the not-inconsiderable attacking threat of James Lowe.
But it’s Scotland who have the healthiest representation of all after their 11-6 victory in London, their first away success over England since 1983, with the celebrated Lions coach favouring eight of his fellow countrymen.
Stuart Hogg, Cameron Redpath, Duhan van der Merwe, Finn Russell, Zander Fagerson, Jonny Gray, Jamie Ritchie and Hamish Watson are all in Mcgeechan’s selection.
The most contentious selection is that of Maro Itoje at lock.
While he caught the eye while charging down and generally pressuring Scotland scrum-half Ali Price, the England forward had one of his least effective games for a while, with indiscipline stamping his effort as he gave away three penalties.
His selection meant there was no place for either Wales skipper Alun Wyn Jones or former Scarlets star Tadgh Beirne, who was excellent for Ireland at the Principality Stadium.
Justin Tipuric, who made 29 hits against Ireland, is omitted from Mcgeehan’s line-up. Another notable exclusion is Robbie Henshaw.
Ian Mcgeechan’s Lions XV of the week: Stuart Hogg; Louis Rees-zammit, Garry Ringrose, Cameron Redpath, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell, Conor Murray; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Zander Fagerson, Maro Itoje, Jonny Gray, Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson, CJ Stander.
ELLIS Jenkins will finally make his long-awaited return to rugby this week – after an absence of 812 days.
The Wales flanker hasn’t played since suffering a catastrophic knee injury in the final seconds of a man-of-the match performance against South Africa in November 2018.
He has had to undergo three operations and has suffered a number of setbacks along the way in his bid to get out on the field again.
But now his moment has arrived.
The 27-year-old will line up for Cardiff Blues against the Ospreys on Friday afternoon in a Welsh derby friendly at the Arms Park.
It’s a sight that will be warmly welcomed as Jenkins has been through a traumatic last couple of years.
He is also one of Wales’s biggest talents, with his ability to excel right across the back row and his leadership qualities, which have seen him captain his country at both under-20 and senior level.
There were signs he was close to a return last month when Blues director of rugby Dai Young said he was now “injury free”.
Young explained he just wanted to give him a bit more training time to help him gain more fitness and confidence in the contact area.
With that additional mileage in his legs, the 11-cap Jenkins is now ready to go.
His horrific injury came just as he looked to be hitting the peak of his powers, having produced an outstanding display against the Springboks at the Principality Stadium, packing down at both blindside at No. 8.
While being cleared out at a ruck in the final play of the game, he suffered damage to his anterior cruciate ligaments, medial collateral ligaments and tendons,
After receiving lengthy treatment on the pitch, he was stretchered off the field while receiving pain-killing gas.
That was to be start of a long road to recovery, with plenty of bumps along the way.
But now he has finally reached the end of that road.
The friendly against the Ospreys will also see a return for injury-plagued winger Owen Lane, who has been sidelined since the end of November.
It will be the first match played at the Arms Park since February 2020, due to the ground’s supporting role to the Dragon’s Heart Hospital and subsequent pitch renovations.
The game starts at 2.30pm.