Ball pushing forward his claims for a Six Nations starting spot
JAKE Ball is on a crusade to force his way into Wales’s starting lineup for the Six Nations opener with Italy in Rome.
The powerful lock forward’s display in the Scarlets’ 15-10 Guinness Pro12 triumph over Cardiff Blues in Llanelli on New Year’s Day was lauded by the west Wales region’s coach Wayne Pivac.
And Ball’s latest eye-catching display was perfectly timed, with Wales coach Rob Howley and his back-room team watching intently from the stands at Parc y Scarlets.
Ball carried relentlessly for the Scarlets – producing one rampaging run in a tense finale – and also put in a big defensive shift.
The 25-year-old was sparsely used by Howley during last autumn’s series, making just one late appearance off the bench against Japan although his cause wasn’t helped by a painful rib injury.
He had taken a heavy blow the European Champions Cup defeat at holders Saracens just a couple of weeks before taking on Australia, seeing Bradley Davies, Luke Charteris and late call-up Cory Hill all starting ahead of him during the four Tests.
But, after some muscular performances in the Champions Cup double-header against Toulon and in the festive derbies, Ball is putting forward a strong case to partner certainty Alun Wyn Jones against Italy in Rome on February 5.
“I thought Jake Ball was colossal in his carries for the full 80 minutes against the Blues,” beamed Pivac.
“He’s a man on a mission. He picked up the injury before the autumn and that slowed him down a bit and he got just one opportunity off the bench.
“He is very keen to make a mark and I think he has done that against some quality opposition. I am very pleased for Jake.”
Ball was pipped to the New Year’s Day man-of-the-match medal by flying wing Steffan Evans, who scored one try and created another for Scott Williams.
Evans has enjoyed an eyecatching campaign and is among the leading attacking threats in the competition, according to the league’s official statistics.
Only Ulster’s Charles Piutau – a player Pivac has described as the best in the Pro12 – has beaten more defenders in the opening 12 rounds, while 22-year-old Evans is also in the top five for tries scored, metres gained and clean breaks.
“Steff has been working a lot on his game. Things like the clean out, his ball control when he is tackled at the ruck area, he is focusing on the small things in his game,” said Pivac.
“We know he has a great step, with ball in hand he is very tricky and a hard customer to put down. He has got a big future in the game, he has just got to keep working as hard as he is.”
Scarlets will play their third game in the space of 11 days when they take on play-off rivals Ulster in another important face-off, in Llanelli on Friday night.
There are fitness doubts surrounding Wales tighthead prop Samson Lee (calf ), outside-half Rhys Patchell and back-five forward Tadhg Beirne (head assessment).
Flanker Aaron Shingler and wing DTH van der Merwe, who picked up blows to the head in the defeat to the Ospreys, are also to be assessed.
Wales internationals Liam Williams and Ken Owens, who were both rested for the New Year’s Day clash, are set to return, as is flanker James Davies, who has completed a three-week suspension for bringing the game into disrepute after making a rude gesture.
Ulster were beaten 22-7 by Leinster in Dublin on Saturday afternoon and sit four points behind the fourth-placed Scarlets in the Pro12 table.
Scarlets are ahead of Glasgow Warriors because they have won one more match, with the pair five points behind third-placed Leinster.
Ospreys, who are two points astern of leaders Munster, are three in front of Leinster as the race to finish in the top four and reach the title play-offs continues to grip.