ELIAS: WALES PROVED POINT
RYAN Elias believes Wales proved a point in Saturday’s Six Nations victory over Scotland.
Wayne Pivac’s men had been under great pressure following their miserable opening-day performance which saw them crash 29-7 in Ireland.
But they responded in fine style, grinding out a 20-17 victory over a Scottish team who had beaten England in a Calcutta Cup showdown just seven days earlier.
Scarlets hooker Elias was to the fore in the Welsh effort. There had been suggestions his place could be under threat after the Dublin debacle, but he showed his worth with an excellent performance.
He generally threw well at the line-out, an area of concern heading into the game, and was busy in the loose, snaffling a turnover near the end of the first half.
He also consistently made yards after contact, forcing Wales on to the front foot.
Elias said: “We had a long hard look at ourselves following the Irish match.
“There were quite a few areas we wanted to get better at, and one of them was the physicality side of things.
“For us forwards it was a case of wanting to front up physically and get stuck into them (Scotland).
“We’ve got to build on this, and hopefully go up another gear against the English because it is a tough old Test match at Twickenham.
“We need more of the same, and we need to keep getting better.
“You know that England are always going to pose a massive threat physically.”
Elias also reserved praise for Wales skipper Dan Biggar.
Despite having an issue with
his right knee that saw him wince in pain several times, Biggar kicked 15 points, including the match-winning drop-goal with 10 minutes left to floor Scotland.
“He took a knock early doors, and I thought the way he was rolling around he could be going off,” said Carmarthen product Elias.
“It is just a testament to the bloke he is and the player he is.
“He is so resilient, and he had a great game.
“I thought he was class again.” Wales boss Wayne Pivac also hailed captain Biggar after he defied injury to inspire a Guinness Six Nations title revival.
“Dan epitomises for me what you want in a rugby team, and that is someone who fights for every last inch,” head coach Pivac said.
“He doesn’t give an inch, and not only does he fight to win every blade of grass on the pitch, he also does a good job with the match officials.
“I am very pleased he was able to do a good job and captain the
team to victory.”
Wales have still got it all to do in this season’s tournament, facing England at Twickenham on Saturday week before hosting unbeaten title favourites France.
But there is encouraging news on the injury front, with No. 8 Taulupe Faletau making a tryscoring return for Bath on Saturday after seven months out.
Flanker Josh Navidi is closing in on a comeback.
Centre Willis Halaholo, who has been out with a hamstring strain, and wing Josh Adams, an absentee against Scotland due to a tight calf muscle, should be fit for Twickenham.
“Certainly, we welcome back anybody from injury,” Pivac said.
“Willis has been training with us for a good week and a half, and he will be a lot sharper for another week.
“He will come into the reckoning.
“Josh is recovering from a tight calf, and we would expect both of them to be available for England, hopefully.”