WALES forwards coach Robin McBryde has predicted tougher challenges for young loose-head prop Rob Evans, despite an impressive start to his test career.
Scarlets prop Rob Evans has enjoyed an impressive start to test rugby with his dynamic ball carrying, and powerful scrummaging proving a handful for the opposition.
However, despite a promising start, former Llanelli hooker McBryde was quick to warn Evans of the challenge he will face at Twickenham.
“It’s going to get tougher and tougher for Rob, it’s not going to get easier because the more you play at international level the more sides are going to analyse you individually, and the way you fit into a team,” said McBryde.
“With the scrum being a big part of modern day rugby, you’ve got four different angles of the scrum.
“So your going to be really analysed and any weakness that you may have is going to be pinpointed and analysed.”
The six times capped Haverfordwest native has played his part in a vastly improved Welsh scrum performance, with McBryde complimentary on the impact of Evans on the squad.
McBryde said: “His set-piece work has surprised a lot of people with regards to how technically proficient he’s been, and I thought he was a little bit unlucky with a couple of calls he had last Friday.
“He’s enthusiastic, it’s what he brings to the squad as well.
Despite his impact in the first three rounds of the Championship, the former Welsh international stressed that Evans is a work in progress.
“He’s a bundle of energy, and long may that continue,” he said.
“You’ve got to temper that a little bit because he couldn’t run past the ball without picking it up the first 20 minutes against France.
“He’d obviously read Sonny Bill’s autobiography or something the morning of the game because there were three cat-flaps (off-loads) in those 20 minutes.
“So he just need to temper that a little bit, and that will come with experience, but what you can’t do is dampen down his enthusiasm because he’s alive in a game both in attack and defence.”
In recent years one area where Warren Gatland’s side have arguably held the upper hand over England has been the breakdown.
Wales have two out-and out-fetchers in their ranks, while England have so far opted to play James Haskell out of position at open-side.
However, the Wales forward coach claimed that the breakdown battle would be a collective effort.
He said: “How effective you are as an open-side all depends how effective you are in attack with regards to getting across the gain-line.
“Defensively, perhaps you’ve got to rely on somebody else to put a big hit in, and then you’re right on the shoulder to get over the ball.
“As a unit they are a pretty tough, physical bunch with Robshaw, Haskell, and Vunipola.
“They are very physical, so sometimes its not all about jacking, it’s about taking that space over the ball as well, and winning that space.
“Having said that, someone with Sam Warburton’s qualities, his mind-set is defensively oriented with regards to measuring himself on the number of jackals he gets.
“It will be a battle, and it will be a physical encounter and that’s what we’re gearing up to face.”
