A new era … and a new opportunity

A NEW international season dawns on Welsh rugby next weekend when they take on Scotland in Cardiff for the Doddie Weir Cup. But it will also be a new era for Wales, post-Sam Warburton, after their captain and Lions skipper announced he was quitting rugby during the summer.

For another Wales and Lions hero, Scott Quinnell ( pictured), the loss of Warburton should be seen as an opportunity for others, with such a colossal year of international rugby approaching.

“It is a new era, with no Sam Warburton. Players do retire. But you are never going to take someone like him, and with his qualities and stature, out of a group without it creating a vacuum,” the former 52-times capped No.8 said.

“However, there is a real opportunity for some. There will be a lot expected of Ellis Jenkins of Cardiff Blues, who captained Wales during the summer. Josh Navidi, James Davies, Taulupe Faletau are injured, so there are places available.

“Behind the scrum, Jarrod Evans has come into the squad and may get a chance at stand- off at some point if Rhys Patchell doesn’t get back to full fitness and with Dan Bigger unavailable for the Scotland match.

“With Rhys Webb going [ruled out after joining Toulon], Gareth Davies at 9 could be freed up a little bit and, with Liam Williams and Leigh Halfpenny re- joining the squad, and Gareth Anscombe making a fantastic start to the season with Cardiff Blues, players are hitting form at the right time.”

The significance of the next 12 months is not lost on Quinnell, or any of the current Wales team. It won’t all be about performances on the pitch either.

“This could be the big chance for some guys,” Quinnell said. “Four successive Tests ... Put a marker down now, and you could be in the mix for 2019. If not, you could be gone. And they’ll know that.

“What has been said is that the Wales coaches expect the players who come through the Autumn to be reflective of the team who will play at the World Cup next year. That is putting pressure on the players already called up, pressure on the players who are injured to get back playing, and pressure on those with any ambition of making Japan next year that they don’t have long to catch the eye.

“Our coaches will want to see players perform in this environment, being part of a squad, a training camp, gaining fitness, gaining the tempo, for several weeks, as it is during the Six Nations or World Cup. Because of that, you may see a number of players emerge.

“Above all else, it means the players who have a jersey, and start against Scotland, know what they’ll have to do to keep hold of that for the next year.”

An opening Test between Wales and Scotland may seem out of place in November. Quinnell, though, has no qualms.

“It’s a bit unusual to have an all- British Test this early in the season,

But, there is a lot of sense in this fixture, because it is a better guide to where you might be against tried and tested opponents. But it should be a good game. Scotland are an exciting side which has progressed under Gregor

[ Townsend]. I think there will be a bit of freedom to play, and a bit more fluency, because there are not Six Nations points at stake. The pride and the passion will be just the same from both teams, and there is a fantastic trophy to win.” Quinnell is looking forward to the Doddie Weir Cup, named in honour of his former Lions team-mate and close pal.

“It will be an emotionally charged day with Doddie there, with the love the Welsh people have for him, with Warren Gatland sadly losing his dad as well. The players will have to put it to the back of their mind, because this is the build- up to the World Cup. “But, for the rest of us, it is a wonderful thing. You have t wo Unions, the Welsh and Scots, celebrating the life and career of a truly great and inspiring man in Doddie, and, no-one should lose sight of that.”