Ball joins Alun Wyn as doubt for Pivac
JAKE Ball will find out this week whether his final Six Nations fling with Wales can go ahead.
The Scarlets lock is to have a scan on his right knee amid fears the damage will leave Wayne Pivac to prepare for the start of the tournament next month without both first-choice second rows.
The growing doubt over Alun Wyn Jones’ fitness for the opening match against Ireland in Cardiff on February 7 made Ball’s presence all the more important irrespective of his impending retirement from the Test arena.
His early withdrawal from the New Year’s Day non-spectacle against Dragons puts that in jeopardy.
“We have no idea as to the extent of the injury,’’ a Scarlets’ source said yesterday. “We’ll know more once he’s had a scan.”
The 29-year-old has endured more than his fair share of injury, knee trouble having reduced him to a largely non-playing role throughout the Six Nations six years ago.
He is one Test short of completing a half-century since making the leap from aspiring Australian fast bowler to winning a Grand Slam with Wales.
Ball, who joined the Scarlets nine years ago from the Western Force after emigrating to Perth with his parents as a teenager, plans to rejoin
his wife, Christie, and four children there at the end of the season. Wales sorely need his fearless physicality if they are to make a winning start on their return to Cardiff.
Their casualty list is as long as ever with continuing concern over long-term absentees Ross Moriarty, Josh Navidi, Aaron Shingler and Rhys Patchell, all members of the World Cup squad beaten by South Africa in the semi-final 14 months ago.
Moriarty, recovering from ankle surgery, has not played for Wales since the 63-point thriller at Twickenham shortly before the first lockdown last March. The Dragons, without him since early October, have still to name a day for his return.
Concussion issues have prevented Navidi, below, an outstanding member of the 2019 Grand Slam team, playing since the end of August.
Cardiff Blues admit they are still unable to put a date on the estimated return of their multi-purpose back row forward. The club say Navidi is ‘in regular consultation with a neurological expert’ but that the prognosis of a return to action “in a matter of weeks depends on his progression to full training’’.
Liam Williams, restricted to a solitary appearance for the Scarlets since rejoining them from Saracens almost 18 months ago, failed to make his planned return last Friday. Scarlets say they expect him to be ‘involved’ against Cardiff Blues next weekend along with Wales wing Johnny McNicholl.
For all the dark clouds hovering over the game in Wales, there is a silver lining.
Ken Owens, an inspirational player who has been missed by his country more than any other, is on schedule for a Scarlets’ return before the Six Nations.