Rob Howley believes the latest crop of Wales youngsters can be the spark that lights a fire under their RBS Six Nations challenge.
Assistant coach excited by next generation
Rob Howley believes the latest crop of Wales youngsters can be the spark that lights a fire under their RBS Six Nations challenge.
Head coach Warren Gatland's investment in youth was seen as an integral factor in the country's march to the World Cup semi-finals, with captain Sam Warburton, George North and Toby Faletau among those to emerge from the tournament as global stars.
Gatland's 35-man training squad for the Six Nations includes further evidence of the promising talents being churned out by the regional academy system - with Ospreys centre Ashley Beck, 21, deservedly rewarded for his outstanding form, and Cardiff Blues wing Harry Robinson, who has impressed in the Sevens set-up, being among those getting call-ups.
Wales head to Poland on Sunday for a week-long pre-tournament training camp and Howley hopes the presence of the new faces can provide stern competition for places and help give the squad the edge they showcased in New Zealand.
"It's very encouraging to see these youngsters coming through," said the assistant coach.
"I am delighted with Ashley Beck, he has played very well and has benefited from having a regular starting berth at the Ospreys.
Enthusiasm
"These new faces can put pressure on some of the more established members of the squad.
"For example, Ashley can put pressure on the likes of Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams, who all did so well at the World Cup.
"But we have to remember that we failed at the World Cup, we lost in the semi-final, and we have to reignite that enthusiasm which we had before the World Cup.
"Going to Poland is part of that and bringing in fresh faces makes people realise you are not guaranteed your position. Having that competition will be key to what we want to do in Poland and in the tournament itself."
Wales travel to Poland having held two separate camps in Spala last summer as part of their World Cup preparations, and Gatland felt the trips proved hugely beneficial when it came to the start of the tournament.
Wales will this time head to Gdansk but will adopt a similar itinerary to that employed in Spala, including the use of cryotherapy chambers, the temperatures of which can drop as low as -160 degrees Celsius.
And Howley hopes the positive effects of the camp will be in evidence when Wales kick off their Six Nations campaign against Ireland in Dublin on February 5.
He said: "Hopefully we can recreate that intensity on the players both physically and technically and it will help us to find the right selection for Ireland.
"This camp is really an MOT of a player. Some of the players have come back after the Rugby World Cup and had a rest before going into the Heineken Cup, but some were put straight in and have had an intense period with the number of games over Christmas, which is not an easy time for players.
"The first couple of days will be about finding where we are at physically and mentally, the players need to be able to switch off and that is part of the reason for taking them away out of Wales.
"We are going to a different place this time, we are going to Gdansk instead of Spala, which will help them and get them up and running for the tail of the week in readiness to come back and be ready to face Ireland, which could be a pivotal game in the RBS 6 Nations."
