By Graham Thomas
Rhys Webb is poised to make his comeback from injury and offer Wales a possible Six Nations option.
The Ospreys scrum-half is likely to play at least some of his region’s Pro12 match away to Munster on Sunday.
Webb has not been seen in action since being helped from the field against Italy last September when a serious foot injury wrecked his hopes of playing for Wales at the World Cup.
At the time it was feared he would miss the entire Six Nations, too, but the 27-year-old’s determination to get fit could now offer Wales coach Warren Gatland another choice at No.9 for the last two games of the tournament, against England and Italy.
By the time Wales go to Twickenham on March 12, Webb could have four matches under his belt and provide an alternative to Gareth Davies and Lloyd Williams.
“There’s a probability he’ll be in the 23,” said Ospreys backs coach Gruff Rees, regarding Rees’s comeback this weekend in Cork.
“He has been raring to go for a couple of months. You have to go through the medical process and that can be hard at first, but Rhys takes all the potential stumbling blocks in his stride.
“We have good options at scrum-half. Brendan Leonard skippered the side for the last game and did well around the group, providing the leadership and key messages. But Rhys is champing at the bit and we want to get his qualities onto the field.”
Gatland is still sweating over the extent of an ankle injury suffered by fly-half Dan Biggar in Sunday’s 16-16 draw with Ireland.
The Welsh Rugby Union have said Biggar’s injury is not long term and Gatland has delayed naming his team to face Scotland on Saturday.
