Jenkins wants to provide selection dilemma

Ellis Jenkins has challenged his Wales team-mates to give Warren Gatland the selection headache he has requested when they face Tonga today.

Cardiff Blues flanker Jenkins will captain a Wales side showing 14 changes from the one that claimed a first victory over Australia in 10 years last weekend.

And with Wales’ 2019 World Cup countdown now at the 11 Tests remaining stage, it represents a golden opportunity for Jenkins and company to shine.

Wales are undefeated in the Under Armour Series so far, beating Scotland and Australia, while wins against Tonga and then South Africa next week would give them a first autumn clean sweep.

“Gats has said he wants some selection headaches for next week and going forward, and it is up to us to give them to him,” said Jenkins, who leads Wales for a second time after success against South Africa in Washington DC earlier this year.

“When we play the Tier Two nations with lots of changes, obviously there are different combinations and it can be difficult and we try and do too much too early.

“We have spoken about sticking to our guns, and it is a good test for us. They can be dangerous, especially if the game gets loose.

“The weather conditions were terrible (when Wales played Tonga in Auckland last year), but we managed the game quite well, ground them down, ran them around, tired them out and came through in the last 20 minutes.” Gordonians will use a second straight postponement as opportunity to rest their title-challenging squad.

Their proposed opponents today, Murrayfield Wanderers, pulled out of the fixture yesterday morning as they were unable to raise a team.

It came a week after Orkney were unable to travel to Countesswells, due to inclement weather.