FORMER Scotland star Kelly Brown believes the brutal nature of Saracens training will stand new Wales prop Sam Wainwright in good stead if he is thrown in at the deep end against South Africa this summer.
The selection of Wainwright in place of the injured Leon Brown for Wales' tour of South Africa sent shockwaves through Welsh rugby this week. North Walian Wainwright, 24, has been at Saracens for the past three seasons after joining from semi-professional Welsh Premiership outfit RGC 1404 but has yet to make a first team start, making just eight appearances as a replacement.
But Saracens assistant coach Brown believes Wainwright has the potential to be a real hit for Wales in the long run. “He's not played a huge amount, but he's been involved in sessions every week scrummaging against the likes of Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Vincent Koch, and Eroni Mawi,” said Brown.
“He's tested every week. A couple of years ago it was really tough for him, and he had a few harsh lessons, but he's definitely kicked on.
“He's also played a lot for Ampthill in the Championship which is a good school for young props because it's a tough and physical league. Our second training day of every game week is very tough. There's live scrummaging, live contact, and 15 against 15.
Pivac has a gem in Sam says Brown
“There's no hiding place in our training sessions and it is brutal. If you get it wrong as a tighthead, then you get folded up, but he holds his own in training against all our international props.
“He's got an opportunity now with Wales to prove himself. It's up to him to go into Wales training, throw himself into evert training session, scrummage well in that, and earn his place in the side.”
Wainwright, though, is currently behind the experienced Tomas Francis and Dillion Lewis in Wayne Pivac's tighthead pecking order.
