Today's rugby news as Gatland's former Wales captain accuses him of 'cop out' and Joe Hawkins returns
These are your rugby headlines on Friday, January 17
Wales star accuses Gatland of 'cop out'
Former Wales international Ellis Jenkins has branded Warren Gatland's excuse to leave Max Llewellyn out of his Six Nations squad as a 'cop out'. Jenkins has also described comments made by the coach that appeared to question the validity of player feedback following the autumn campaign as "poor".
Llewellyn has been in fine form for Gloucester so far this season and currently sits top of the Premiership try-scoring chart with seven tries to his name in the campaign so far. But despite also returning to the Wales squad in the autumn, he was a surprise omission from Gatland's 34-man squad.
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Following the announcement, the Wales coach explained his decision to leave out the centre, citing the fact he didn't get many touches against South Africa during the autumn internationals.
Appearing on the latest episode of the Sportin Wales podcast, Jenkins, who captained Wales under Gatland, was asked by host Alex Cuthbert who he thought should feel unlucky not to be included in the latest Welsh squad.
"I put on social media the other day, the one that's blown my mind is Max," the former flanker replied: "I just don't see that. Not only is he one for the future, but he's bang on form at the moment. It's a win win.
"He plays 12, 13 and he has played on the wing for Gloucester as well. Gats says they have a lot of strength at 12 and they've picked Joe Roberts at 13, which is great to see him back in the squad, he was obviously playing well before he got injured.
"Max played at 13 in the autumn. He's played a lot at 13 with Gloucester. To say he didn't get any touches of the ball against South Africa I personally think is a bit of a cop out."
"They didn't get the ball for 23 minutes!," Cuthbert interjected.
Jenkins continued: "I think it's a cop out, I really do think it's a cop out. One - you're playing against South Africa, your pack is getting absolutely beaten up. But also, if you want to get the ball in the centre's hands you can do it off starter phase. You can organise your gameplay around getting the ball in his hands.
"I just don't understand. And also, there's been two months of rugby between the South Africa game and now. And he's been carving up. To go off one game is, like I said, a bit of a cop out."
Also appearing on BBC Scrum V: The Warm Up, Jenkins said Gatland's comments when asked what he thought of the player feedback during the autumn review did not sit well with him.
The Wales head coach had said: "The questions I ask sometimes, of the players that have given feedback and stuff, what has their experience been in a professional winning environment?
"Even with regards to the people doing the reviews or being part of the process, those are the questions I asked myself. What is their experience or involvement in high-level professional sport winning environments?"
Ex-Wales back-row Jenkins admitted: "I was really surprised with his answer.
"To question the players and the validity of their feedback just because they haven't been involved in an international winning environment is poor in my view.
"If you're going to do a review, you don't have to action all of the feedback, but you at least take it on board.
"Just because they haven't been involved in a winning campaign, which realistically there's not many players in Wales that have been part of a successful international campaign in the last couple of years, it doesn't invalidate their feedback.
"The way it's worded and to question the process and the people involved doesn't sit well with me at all."
Joe Hawkins returns
Exiled Wales international Joe Hawkins will return to action for Exeter Chiefs after being named in the starting line-up to take on Ulster in the Champions Cup tonight.
The 22-year-old has not featured for Rob Baxter's side since November and has recently been strongly linked with a return to Welsh rugby. Hawkins is currently ineligble for selection having only won five caps for his country before leaving the Ospreys for the Chiefs, but Warren Gatland strongly hinted last year that he would be available for the Six Nations with Cardiff tipped to sign him.
While neither of those things have materialised ahead of the Six Nations, Hawkins will finally return to the field for Exeter tonight, with fellow Wales international Christ Tshiunza joining him in the line-up.
Welsh-qualified hooker Jack Innard has been handed the captaincy for the match, while there is also a place on the replacements bench for dual-qualified Zack Wimbush, who had been tipped as a potential Six Nations bolter for Wales.
Director of Rugby Baxter had previously said there was no "agenda" against Hawkins after he was repeatedly left out of the matchday squad amid rumours of a return to Wales.
"We've not got an agenda that we're leaving him out because we've heard he's moving on or that a Welsh region want to bring him back," he said in November last year.
"I haven't been involved in any speculation. We've not had talks right now about a contract extension but we also haven't said that we're not going to. The only thing I'm looking for from everyone is to show that they deserve to be in the team, fight to get us moving forward."
Omitted star backed to earn call-up
Ospreys lock James Fender has been backed to win international honours in the near future despite narrowly missing out on the Wales squad.
The 23-year-old was under consideration for a place in Warren Gatland's Six Nations squad but failed to make the cut despite playing well for the Ospreys. But Ospreys forwards coach Richard Kelly believes it is only a matter of time before Fender wears the red of Wales.
"You look at his form before he got his injury last season and he was one of the form players in Wales within the second-row pool," said Kelly. "That injury probably came at the wrong time for him last year around selection and he would have been pushing there despite his age based on his performances.
"I know how hard he's worked off the field to put himself in a position where he's getting himself back to that sort of form. He is young and, if it doesn't happen now, I'm sure knowing James he's going to keep working as hard as he is and fingers crossed he's going to get those opportunities in the future."
Fender has developed into a key player for the Ospreys over the past couple of seasons and will be a key player for the club moving forward.
"He's a real talent," said Kelly. "His lineout speed alongside some of the physicality stuff he's shown around the field. He's got a lot to offer going forward.
"Wales have got to pick the squad based on what they want for that gameplan in those games. Every coach will want different things but for me he's definitely put himself into that conversation around whether he should be included in that international squad."
Dragons suffer double injury blow
The Dragons are waiting to learn the full extent of injuries to Angus O'Brien and Cai Evans after the duo were forced off against Pau last weekend.
Captain O'Brien was withdrawn after half-time after injuring his thumb, while Wales international Evans looked distraught as he suffered what looked like a serious Achilles injury, which left him on crutches after the game.
Both players are still having their injuries assessed while the rest of the squad has flown out to South Africa for their Challenge Cup clash with the Lions in Johannesburg, with Filo Tiatia's side looking to upset the odds and qualify for the last 16.
A lengthy spell on the sidelines is feared for Evans, who is out of contract at Rodney Parade this summer.
The absence of O'Brien and Evans means Lloyd Evans and Will Reed are Tiatia's options at fly-half this weekend, with young full-back Huw Anderson also back in the fold after returning from injury.
Providing an update on both men, the interim Dragons head coach said: “Angus has had a few scans and we are waiting on the final medical report, it's the same for Cai Evans as well.
“It’s a great opportunity for both Lloyd and Will, who have both had good moments in matches. This is an opportunity for them to stake a claim and play well in the 10 jersey.”
The Dragons have never won in South Africa but will be boosted by the return of Ryan Woodman and Shane Lewis-Hughes from an ankle injury and illness respectively.
Scrum-half Rhodri Williams, who was named in Warren Gatland's Wales squad earlier this week, has stayed home from South Africa as he continues to recover from a minor knee issue, but fellow call-ups Aaron Wainwright and Elliot Dee have made the trip out.
