The full-back Leigh Halfpenny will not be considered by Wales for their crucial Six Nations match against England in Cardiff next weekend after his planned comeback for the Scarlets at Treviso on Saturday, three months after he suffered concussion, was aborted.
Halfpenny returned to full training last week and was released to the Scarlets by Wales on Wednesday in the hope that he would play in Treviso. However, the following day the medical teams of both the region and Wales agreed that his return should be delayed.
The Welsh Rugby Union issued a statement that read: “Leigh Halfpenny was not considered for the Scarlets’ fixture this weekend. Although Leigh has returned to full training, it was collectively decided that he should continue training fully with the hope he will be available for selection in the imminent future.”
The Scarlets used the statement in their team announcement for Treviso but did not elaborate. Halfpenny was included among the players who were not considered for selection because of injury. The word concussion appeared after his name.
One report said Halfpenny had suffered a setback in his recovery. That has not been confirmed and it appears the medics, while happy that the 30-year old continues to take contact in training, are not satisfied that he is ready to return to play, giving him no chance of facing England in a game Wales need to win to remain in the title race.
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Meanwhile, Ben Moon and Ellis Genge have been urged to seize the opportunity presented by the loss of the “irreplaceable” Mako Vunipola against Wales. Moon and Genge, who has responded positively to treatment on his injured ankle, are vying for the loosehead position after Vunipola was ruled out of the rest of the Six Nations this week.
England must decide whether Genge’s explosive qualities or Moon’s reliability at the set piece is more suited to next Saturday’s match but the scrum coach Neal Hatley conceded the entire side must share the added load brought about by Vunipola’s absence. “You don’t really replace someone like Mako, it is an opportunity for Ben Moon. It is a fantastic opportunity for Ellis Genge. Losing someone like Mako, all the other players are going to have to find another 3 or 4 per cent.”
Moon made his unexpected Test debut aged 29 last November, going on to feature in all four of England’s matches with Vunipola nursing a different injury and Joe Marler having retired from international rugby. Eddie Jones referred to Moon as “one of those blokes who goes down the coal mine for you every day” and the Exeter prop takes that appraisal as a compliment.
“Everyone’s different, that’s the beauty of rugby,” said Moon. “You’ve got guys who carry the ball 15-20 times in a game, others who will hit 30 odd rucks in a game. Everyone’s got their role, but whatever Eddie sees in me, I’m happy to take that role.
“Mako is a big loss to us, he’s a fantastic player, he’s got a lot of experience. That gives me and Gengey an opportunity to fight it out and compete for a starting spot, which we’ve started doing this week. I don’t want to look at it as just stepping in. Definitely want to stake a claim for that shirt and do the best you can.”
While Moon’s strengths lie in the scrum, he did catch the eye with a thundering tackle on South Africa’s Duane Vermeulen on his debut and he has been given a ringing endorsement by Courtney Lawes. “He is certainly more of a set-piece-focused [player] than Mako is,” said Lawes.”But he hits like a train, he is a very good player and he showed that previously. I have got every faith in him to step up and do that again.”