STAR WELSH CENTRE Jamie Roberts says that the injury crisis that currently engulfs the national side will help them improve in the long run.
The defending Six Nations champions are set to be without Bradley Davies, Alun Wyn Jones and Luke Charteris from the second row department and many in Wales fear that such reduced resources in the pack will make a title defence impossible.
“It’s always disappointing when your fellow players get injured, certainly players who have been at the forefront of success over the last two years.” Roberts said.
“Second rows – to see Brad (Davies) get injured last week and (Luke) Charteris and Alun Wyn (Jones) obviously – it’s tough.”
However, Roberts believes that the enforced changes will bring greater desire into the starting line-up.
The side that will rely heavily on Roberts along with Leigh Halfpenny, George North and 24-year-old captain Sam Warburton has never been slow throwing young talent towards the deep end. So when injuries befall a squad, Roberts does not have to dig too deep into his own past to find a silver lining.
“It’s only injury or poor form that gives someone else an opportunity.
“I remember when I first started playing for the Blues, it was only an injury to Chris Czekaj our winger – on the summer tour he had a spiral fracture of his femur against Australia – so they needed a winger to step up the next season and that’s the only reason I got my chance.
“As a professional player, I might not be where I am now if I didn’t get that shot.”
Roberts will no doubt have already imparted this same wisdom to Andrew Coombs, the 28-year-old lock ready to make his Test debut in the absence of the three specialists ahead of him, and also Ryan Jones, who can play in either the second or the back row.
The Dragons forward has thus far been viewed as a rather ordinary talent. And his selection in the 35-man squad, never mind the starting XV, was a surprise for many across the Irish Sea.
Back in
With nothing to lose, he’s not likely to leave anything behind him under the Millennium roof and Roberts says his goal must be to make AW Jones’ rehabilitation even more uncomfortable.
“The second rows coming in who have been named in the squad must be chomping at the bit now they’ve got their opportunity and they have to take it.
“Those boys who are out know it’s very hard to come back into the setup. It’s one downside of injury that it is very difficult to get back in. Certainly with how competitive the environment is at the minute.”
