Owen insists Wales are ready for battle
Former Wales skipper Michael Owen insists the side will not roll over against Australia despite the odds being stacked against them, insisting “we are here to compete”.
Owen, who won the Grand Slam while leading his country, is part of a squad weakened by the decision to leave a handful of leading players at home for what is sure to be a stern test down under.
But the number eight believes that the presence of a number of fringe players will ensure the match is loaded with significance.
For Owen and the other players on duty against the Wallabies at Sydney’s Telstra Stadium on Saturday and again in Brisbane on June 2, it is a chance to rubber stamp a place in Gareth Jenkins’ World Cup squad.
“We will be going flat out against the Wallabies as we all want to prove we deserve a place in that World Cup squad,” he said.
“Trying to be too cute about it and giving nothing away would just come back to bite us – we’re here to compete and we are confident.”
Jenkins’ side play Australia one more time, at home, before the sides play again in Group B of the World Cup and Owen insists they will use every minute of the following matches to size up their opponents.
“We will hold nothing back, we’ve not come here to be cannon fodder to Australia, we will give it everything and find out everything we can about them.”
“Then, when we play them in Cardiff at the end of summer, we will be looking to offer something different again – and again in the World Cup.
“But there’s no way we will be keeping anything in the locker, it’s much better to lay down a marker now and then come up with new stuff before we next meet.”
For Owen, in particular, these matches provide an opportunity to restore himself to contention for the national side after injury hampered his efforts earlier in the year.
“For me personally this is my chance to show the new coaches what I can do,” Owen said.
“I’ve got 34 caps under my belt so I’m confident I’ve got something to offer at this level.
“I had a shoulder operation at the start of the season and wasn’t involved in the Six Nations, so I’ve been targeting this tour as my chance to come back.
“The competition for places we have in the back row and second row is right up there, but I just need to back myself and hope the coaches like what they see if I get a chance.
“Australia is a great country to play rugby in, the pitches are top notch and the weather conditions are perfect.
“I’ve been really looking forward to it ever since I found out I wouldn’t be involved in the squad for the Six Nations and realised this would be where I’d get my chance.”
Meanwhile, former Wales fly-half Neil Jenkins, currently kicking coach to the national side, has urged his colleagues not to stifle the natural talent of his successor James Hook.
Jenkins will be working alongside Hook, Gavin Henson and Ceri Sweeney in Australia but insists the youngster should be left to his won devices to a certain extent.
“The boys are working really hard on their game in training and we are blessed with a choice of three very talented kickers.
“Take James Hook as an example. He is such a talented individual and right on his game at the moment, that the best thing for us to do as coaches is just leave him to get on with it.
“As coaches you don’t want to create robots. You want to nurture talent and players like Hook do things instinctively in a game.
“We’ve got to make sure we don’t over coach and detract from that instinct.”
