Jenkins hails Wales strength

Wales (15/8 RBS 6 Nations 2013 outright – bet365) coach Neil Jenkins believes the current squad is continuing to make progress ahead of their autumn internationals next month.

The Welsh are getting set to travel to Poland for the training camp which served them so well before the 2011 World Cup, when they reached the semi-finals of the competition in New Zealand.

Argentina, Samoa, the All Blacks and Australia are ready in waiting for the RBS 6 Nations champions, who have called Rob McCusker ,Tavis Knoyle and Dan Biggar back into the squad, whilst Aaron Jarvis is set to earn his first cap next month.

Former Wales (8/1 World Cup 2015 outright – bet365) and British Lions star Jenkins believes the national side have options in all areas of team, which has been one of the reasons for their success in recent RBS 6 Nations campaigns.

He told WRU TV: “The one thing we’ve done over recent years is competition for places, no matter what position you’re in. It’s irrelevant if you’re captain or not.

“I think there’s always been pressure in different areas of the pitch. I think that’s healthy for the squad. I think that’s shown in the way we’ve played over the past few years.”

Foden to miss rest of 2012

Stuart Lancaster says England have lost a “valuable leader” after full-back Ben Foden was ruled out of the autumn internationals (England 11/4  – To Win 2013 Six Nations with bet365).

The Northampton Saints star requires surgery on damaged ankle ligaments suffered against Bath a week ago and so will not face Fiji, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.

Foden is expected to be out of action for up to three months and so Saints will have to do without him for their Heineken Cup pool campaign.

Lancaster said: “It is unfortunate for Ben who has had a good run in the side and is a valuable leader.

“But we have a number of back three players who are playing well and this offers a chance for them.”

Foden has featured in 27 of the last 28 England Tests and the battle to take his shirt appears to be a straight fight between Mike Brown and Alex Goode.

Lancaster will now be hoping Foden makes a full recovery ahead of next spring’s Six Nations championship.

Northampton are 16/1 shots to win the Heineken Cup this season with bet365.

Joubert eyes England call-up

Saracens’ South African No 8 Ernst Joubert has revealed his intention to represent England (11/4 to win Six Nations 2013 with bet365) at international level.

The 32-year-old is now eligible for England on residency grounds, having moved to the Aviva Premiership three years ago from the Lions in South Africa.

Joubert appreciates age is not on his side, while he also faces fierce competition from the likes of Ben Morgan and Thomas Waldrom. However, he remains hopeful he could yet become an international player.

“As a professional sportsman, my goal is to play at the highest level and it would be a great honour to play for England,” he told the Rugby Paper.

“I realise it’s a long shot with my age and that there are other guys around, but I want to compete against the best in the world at international level.”

Joubert has been a stand-out performer in his position since his arrival in England and won the Premiership title with Sarries in 2011, the first time the club had been crowned English champions.

He is excited by the prospect of emulating compatriot and club team-mate Mouritz Botha in playing for England.

“I’ve been here three years and absolutely loved it, so if I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity with England, I’d grab it with both hands,” Joubert added.

Joubert featured for Saracens (14/1 Heineken Cup outright with bet365) as they fought out a 9-9 draw with Leicester Tigers in front of a crowd of more than 41,000 at Wembley on Saturday.

Gatland targets Lions success

Warren Gatland has been confirmed as the head coach for the British and Irish Lions 2013 tour and he insists that he can lead the side to victory over Australia (Australia 11/10, Lions 5/6, Draw 16/1 Series Betting with bet365).

It was not exactly a secret that Gatland would be given the honour following his Grand Slam success with Wales in the 2012 Six Nations (Wales 15/8 to win Six Nations 2013 with bet365), coming on the back of a semi-final appearance at the World Cup in 2011.

Gatland takes up his duties with the Lions with immediate effect and insists he is ‘honoured’ to have been given the job, and is confident he has the players to lead the side to a first series since Ian McGeechan’s squad won in South Africa in 1997.

“I am really honoured to have been asked to take the position of head coach,” Gatland said.

“There is no question it will be one hell of a challenge; playing in the southern hemisphere is one of rugby’s hardest challenges.

“The Lions came close in South Africa [in 2009] and our ambition is to win the series in 2013. I believe we have the players to do that.”

Rob Howley will begin his caretaker coaching role of Wales for the opening two autumn internationals against Argentina, although Gatland will return for the final two against New Zealand and Australia – but will not lead Wales in their Six Nations defence.

Paterson expects World Cup target

Former Scotland (14/1 Six Nations outright with bet365) full-back Chris Paterson has backed the Scottish Rugby Union’s ambitions to win the Six Nations Grand Slam by 2016 and mount a serious challenge for the World Cup in 2015.

The four-year strategic plan was outlined by chief executive Mark Dodson earlier this week and comes on the back of a successful summer tour of the southern hemisphere.

Scotland (66/1 World Cup 2015 outright with bet365) endured a disappointing Six Nations this season off the back of their first ever group exit at a World Cup in September last year.

However, away wins over Tri Nations champions Australia and Pacific Island nations Fiji and Samoa have created a real optimism around Scottish rugby under head coach Andy Robinson.

Paterson has been pleased by the targets set by the SRU and believes they are attainable given the potential in the current squad at Murrayfield.

He told BBC Scotland: “It’s an ambitious target, but I think it’s good to set ambitious goals.

“International rugby is so close, so why wouldn’t it be do-able?

“The margins are so, so fine in international rugby and, if you get the small bits right, there’s no reason why you can’t be successful.”

Scots duo out of summer tour

Scotland (20/1 – 2013 Six Nations outright with bet365) will be without number eight David Denton and wing Lee Jones for their summer trip to Australia, Fiji and Samoa due to injury.

The Scottish Rugby Union have confirmed the pair are out of the tour as Jones has a fractured right shoulder blade, while his Edinburgh team-mate Denton is struggling with an ankle injury.

Head coach Andy Robinson is set to name his squad on May 16 ahead of the first Test with Australia (11/2 with bet365 to win World Cup 2015) on June 5, but will be without the injured pair, who were ever-presents in this year’s Six Nations tournament, as Scotland look for a much-needed victory after a run of seven games without a win.

Edinburgh’s Dutch winger Tim Visser, who will be able to represent Scotland next month after fulfilling three years’ residency, is set to replace Jones in the squad, but an alternative to Denton will need to be found.

The injured pair join Jim Hamilton, who is also unavailable after the Gloucester lock was handed a seven-week ban from the RFU, following a brawl with London Irish hooker David Paice during their Aviva Premiership game last weekend.

Roberts issues Howley backing

Wales (15/8 Six Nations 2013 outright with bet365) centre Jamie Roberts believes caretaker head coach Rob Howley will do a fine job with the national side ahead of their summer tour of Australia.

Howley has been brought into the role following the injuries sustained by Warren Gatland during an accident in his home in New Zealand earlier this month.

The Kiwi suffered fractures to both heels and therefore will be unable to lead the Six Nations champions out for their tour Down Under.

Howley was a key figure in the management of the national side which secured the Grand Slam earlier this season and has been promoted to caretaker boss for the three Tests against the Wallabies and a clash with the Barbarians.

Roberts has no doubts the former Wales (8/1 World Cup 2015 outright with bet365) and British Lions scrum-half will have the ability to fill the role in Gatland’s absence.

He said: “Rob commands respect off all the players.

“It’s an opportunity for Rob and the guys with Wales to really make their mark and show they can take charge of a team.

“Certainly I’ve found my game has improved massively under Rob and I’m sure all the backs would agree.”

Warburton ready for a rest

Wales star Sam Warburton has hinted that he could miss the summer tour to Australia after a hectic year of rugby for both Cardiff Blues and his country (Wales 15/8f with bet365 to win the 2013 Six Nations).

The top rugby stars in the northern hemisphere have been at full tilt for almost a year now after following the build-up to the 2011 World Cup with the tournament itself before heading back to their clubs prior to the recent RBS 6 Nations.

Warburton was taken off against France at the weekend with a shoulder problem as Wales completed their third Grand Slam in eight years which was also their 11th to move two clear of Les Bleus? nine clean sweeps.

It appears that the physical nature of the game has taken its toll on Warburton and the 23-year-old might well be rested during the close season.

He said: “To be honest, my body has been creaking ever since the World Cup.

“There is the Australian tour, which would be good, but I am not sure what is going to happen regarding myself now.”

Cardiff Blues, who will be forced to carry on without the back rower for now, take on Scarlets at Cardiff City Stadium in the RaboDirect PRO12 on Saturday evening (Cardiff 16/1 to win the Grand Final with bet365).

Gatland eyes Southern Hemisphere scalps

Wales (15/8 – 2013 Six Nations outright with bet365) coach Warren Gatland says that his side need to start taking the scalps of the Southern Hemisphere nations if they are to be considered among the best teams in the world.

Gatland’s young team battled to an impressive victory against France on Saturday to claim their third Grand Slam in eight years, with the title coming on the back of their superb performances at last year’s World Cup, where they finished fourth.

However, in recent times Wales (8/1 – 2015 World Cup outright with bet365) have regularly struggled when facing the likes of New Zealand, South Africa and Australia, the countries currently ranked as the top three in the world.

Former Wasps coach Gatland takes his side Down Under this summer to face the Wallabies in a three-Test series which is sure to give them a clearer indication of where they stand in the international pecking order.

The trip could be career-defining for a number of the Welsh players and the 48-year-old believes that following their Six Nations success, his men need to start recording victories against the Southern Hemisphere sides if they are to be classed among the elite.

“Our big aim is to be consistent in beating the southern hemisphere sides,” Gatland said.

“And we have a young enough side that over the next few years hopefully we can do that.”

Denton eying Parisse battle

Scotland back-rower David Denton believes he has a big battle on his hands on Saturday when his side  gets set to take on Sergio Parisse and Italy in Rome in the fight to avoid the Six Nations wooden spoon (Italy 6/4, draw 20/1, Scotland 8/13 with bet365).

The Zimbabwe-born No.8 has been a stand-out performer in a disappointing campaign for the Scots, who face a tough trip to the Italian capital this weekend.

Scotland (11/8 Six Nations wooden spoon outright with bet365) have once again shown plenty of promise in the tournament but simple errors in crucial moments of games have ultimately cost the Murrayfield outfit the wins some of their performances have deserved.

Now all the focus is on the wooden spoon clash with the Azzurri at the Stadio Olimpico and Denton believes his battle with Italy skipper Parisse could be a big factor in what is set to be a nervy encounter.

He said: “I’ve never played against him before and I’m really looking forward to it.

“He’s one of the great number eights in the world, as are (Ireland’s) Jamie Heaslip, (France’s Imanol) Harinordoquy, who we’ve played in the last few weeks.

“It’s been a great opportunity for me to learn and test myself up against the best and I think I’ve gone well so far.”