Jenkins named on bench for Wales

By Mark Stevens
31/1/23

Exeter Chiefs lock Dafydd Jenkins is poised for his first-ever involvement in the Guinness Six Nations Championship after being named in Warren Gatland's Wales squad for their clash against Ireland at a sold out Principality Stadium on Saturday (2:15pm).

The 20-year-old only won his first Test cap back in the Autumn against Georgia, but Gatland has been clearly impressed by the Bridgend-born forward, who has played a leading role for the Chiefs in recent weeks.

Not only has he helped the Devon club into the play-off places in the Gallagher Premiership, but he also helped them to the last 16 of the Heineken Champions Cup and became the youngest-ever captain in the Premiership when he led the Chiefs out against London Irish in November.

Whilst Jenkins has been named on the bench to offer back-up to the experienced pairing of Adam Beard and Alun Wyn Jones, there is no place in the match-day squad for club-mate, Christ Tshiunza.

Elsewhere, Joe Hawkins, who won his first senior cap against Australia in the autumn, makes his Six Nations debut at inside centre. He partners Wales’ most-capped men’s international back George North in the midfield.

Dan Biggar, who missed the Autumn Nations Series through injury, returns to the the side at fly-half, while full-back Leigh Halfpenny is in line to make his first start for Wales since the summer of 2021.

Former Chiefs duo Tomas Francis and Alex Cuthbert, both of whom are now with the Ospreys, are also included in Gatland's squad.

Gatland said: “We’ve picked Joe at 12. He’s a lovely footballer with some great skills. I thought for his first cap he was outstanding so we’ve given him another opportunity. There’s some real competition in the midfield at the moment, so I’m really excited about that.

“There’s a mixture in the team of some experience, some younger players. We were conscious as well picking the bench. We think we’ve got a bench that can come on and have an impact.

“Ireland are the number one team in the world, so they’re going to be coming here with a lot of confidence. You don’t become the number one team in the world without having some pretty consistent performances. We know how good they are and we’re expecting a really tough contest. It’s important for us that we start well, but we need to be in the game at the last 20mins.

“We’ve only had a couple of weeks together but I’m confident that the guys will go out and give a good account of themselves. They’re pretty excited about playing this first game at home.”

WALES SIDE TO FACE IRELAND

15. Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets – 97 caps)
14. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 43 caps)
13. George North (Ospreys – 109 caps)
12. Joe Hawkins (Ospreys – 1 cap)
11. Rio Dyer (Dragons – 3 caps)
10. Dan Biggar (Toulon – 103 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 40 caps)
1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 17 caps)
2. Ken Owens (Scarlets, capt – 86 caps) 
3. Tomas Francis (Ospreys – 67 caps)
4. Adam Beard (Ospreys – 41 caps)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys – 155 caps)
6. Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 6 caps)
7. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys – 89 caps)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 95 caps)

Replacements

16. Scott Baldwin (Ospreys – 34 caps)
17. Rhys Carre (Cardiff Rugby – 17 caps)
18. Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 45 caps)
19. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 1 cap)
20. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 4 caps)
21. Rhys Webb (Ospreys – 36 caps)
22. Owen Williams (Ospreys – 3 caps)
23. Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys – 55 caps)