Wales backed to show potential
Wales coach Gareth Jenkins has backed his Australia tour squad to prove their Rugby World Cup potential.
Jenkins, currently leading the nation’s two-Test summer campaign against future world cup opponents the Wallabies, says his experienced squad is excited, enthusiastic and energised and will not give up their international shirts lightly when the tour is over.
“I must admit I’m a bit taken aback by the attitude towards our squad selection in Australia,” said Jenkins.
“We were able to bring a hungry bunch of players out to Australia some of whom did not get the chance, for whatever reason, to play international rugby earlier in the season.
“A hungry group of players, fifteen with 20-caps or more of international experience and containing six British Lions and a captain who is one game away from becoming the most capped Welshman in rugby history.
“Sometime in the middle of August, just like every other international management team in the world game, we will be selecting a group of 30-players to take us to the World Cup. This group of players here in Australia have a fantastic opportunity to be a part of that – and they know it.
“We have an excited, enthusiastic and energised squad and the motivation behind the group emanates from the quality and experience within it.
“Welsh rugby has that kind of depth at the moment and we are in a fortunate position to be able to leave some players at home. But, we are not a development squad, we are overflowing with test match experience.
“There is no doubt that these games are all about world cup preparation, that’s what will ultimately take our focus, but the team themselves will be focussed on being competitive on Saturday and the week after.
“The players at home have no guarantee of making our world cup squad and we are very lucky to have a group of players with us who will not be giving up the shirts they hold easily.
“Everybody knows we are in a World Cup year and it’s a unique set of circumstances. We all have our own way of preparing and in the Northern Hemisphere this period is one in which we get a chance to re-energise one group of players and find out more about another.”
