Today's rugby news as English boss says Welsh star 'will be a Lion' and Wales make contact with in-form man
Here are your rugby headlines for Thursday, January 9.
Exeter boss Baxter: Jenkins will be a Lion
Exeter's director of rugby Rob Baxter believes Wales lock Dafydd Jenkins is in contention for a British and Irish Lions spot.
Despite missing the autumn internationals due to knee and shoulder surgeries, the 22-year-old has made a strong comeback, starting the last three Premiership games for Exeter.
READ MORE: This is what a Wales A team would look like right now
Jenkins, who captained Wales in the previous Six Nations and featured in every match at the last World Cup, could be a key player in the upcoming Lions tour to Australia, with the first Test scheduled for July 19 in Brisbane.
"He's getting through an awful lot of hard work, and he'll know himself, he just wants to add a little bit more accuracy to it, and making sure he makes good decisions, doesn't just overwork and get into things he doesn't need to get into," Baxter told the BBC.
"But his attitude to playing, to training, to where he wants the team to be, what he expects from the players around him is absolutely fantastic.
"I would fully expect him to have a very good Six Nations. In my opinion he's a guy who will be a Lion, he will be, it's whether it's now, whether it's this tour, whether it's another tour.
"To be fair he's got plenty time, he could go on a Lions tour in three tours time and still be in his prime. For me he's one of the guys in our team and in our pack that my ambition is to build a very good team around."
Wales 'make contact' with Leicester star
Wales selectors have been in contact with uncapped, dual-qualified Leicester Tigers back-rower Olly Cracknell ahead of the Six Nations.
That's according to the Daily Mail, who claim that Welsh rugby's strength and conditioning staff have touched base with the Premiership club ahead of next week's squad announcement.
The former Wales under-20s international and ex-Ospreys man, now 30, has enjoyed a stellar season for the Welford Road club and enhanced his credentials further at the weekend with a try in the bonus-point win over Exeter Chiefs.
He is yet to earn a cap for Wales, despite having been called up for training squads by Warren Gatland previously, but his club boss, Michael Cheika, believes he is one of the best back-rowers in England at the moment and is ready for Test rugby.
“I’ve really enjoyed coaching him,” Cheika said at the weekend. “He’s an intelligent guy and thinks about the game well. He’s a bloody good player, carrying well for us and being physical. He’s stoic and quiet but he’s becoming invaluable. He’s probably one of the best back-rowers in England right now. He might not have the flash and the glitter but he’s doing the job, for sure.
“I don’t think he’s got the ‘potential’ [for Test rugby] – he’s there. If they played him at that level then he would definitely perform, because he’s got the mentality and the temperament.”
Italy suffer new Six Nations blow
Italy wing Louis Lynagh is set to be ruled out of the Six Nations after undergoing surgery on a knee injury.
The 24-year-old sustained the injury to his lateral collateral ligament during Benetton's recent derby win over Zebre, and has since undergone surgery in London. While his club said the procedure was a "complete success", he is not expected to return in time to play any part in the upcoming tournament.
It is another blow for head coach Gonzalo Quesada, who yesterday discovered he would be without loosehead Mirco Spagnolo for the opening two matches of the campaign.
In an injury update on Wednesday, a statement from Benetton read: "Lynagh suffered a sprain to his left knee during the match against Zebre. The instrumental tests revealed a lesion of the lateral collateral ligament, which required surgery, performed in London.
"The surgery was a complete success and the player will now begin his rehabilitation process. Benetton Rugby wishes Louis a speedy recovery and a quick return to the field.”
Lynagh is the son of Australia great Michael Lynagh, while he also represented England at U20s level and was once called up into a senior training squad when Eddie Jones was in charge. However, his mother is Italian and he was born there too, with the ex-Harlequins flyer announcing his intention to represent the Azzurri before he moved to Benetton over the summer.
He made his debut for Italy in last year's Six Nations, helping his side to a famous victory over Scotland with a stunning try, and has been a regular feature ever since.
Netflix Six Nations doc facing the axe
The Six Nations is preparing for its final bow on Netflix amid concerns that the streaming giant will withdraw from rugby's premier annual competition, according to The Mail.
The second series of Full Contact is set to premiere in Rome this month, but there is a growing resignation that a third series may not materialise after disappointing viewer uptake in its first instalment.
The behind-the-scenes documentary could fall victim to a shift in strategy at Netflix, which is now investing heavily in live sports events. While Netflix has yet to officially confirm its stance on the Six Nations, the report states that film crews are not expected to join the teams for next week's squad announcements, which could be significant in relation to the streaming giant's faith in the long-term future of the show.
The tender process has already begun, with the competition’s traditional spot on the BBC in jeopardy due to shrinking budgets. Organisers are understood to be open to sharing the rights between free-to-air and subscription channels, but no decision has yet been made.
There were complaints about limited access during the filming of the first series of Full Contact in 2023, but second series is reportedly set to include far more revealing aspects of the tournament.
