Why Rob Evans Has Been Wales' 2016 RBS 6 Nations Surprise Package

Replacing a living legend is a task no player would rank as the easiest way to break into international rugby.

When a player of Gethin Jenkins' stature is starting to show the wear and tear of a 100-plus cap career, and the next-most experienced man—Paul James—is also reaching the upper limit of miles on the clock, there comes a point where a coach has to trade all that experience for a fresh face.

Warren Gatland has taken that step in the 2016 RBS Six Nations with the promotion of Scarlets loosehead Rob Evans to the No. 1 jersey for Wales.

The 23-year-old has been first choice for both games so far this tournament, and the highest compliment you can pay the man from west Wales is that the red scrum has looked stronger than ever.

Here are three reasons why Evans is Wales’ surprise package of this Six Nations tournament.

Evans did not even merit a place on the bus across the Severn Bridge for Wales’ Rugby World Cup campaign.

Gatland opted for Jenkins and James as his two specialist loosehead men, with either Aaron Jarvis or Nicky Smith arguably the next cab off the rank at that point.

Evans had not proved himself then.

This was despite an impressive role as a replacement for the injured Jenkins in Wales’ 2015 win over Ireland in the Six Nations, which earned him the starting jersey on the final day against Italy.

But he struggled against the experience of Martin Castrogiovanni and was hooked at half-time. It was 40 minutes of rugby that effectively ended his hopes of a place in the World Cup party.

One of the highlights of the opening weekend was Mako Vunipola’s deft pass to Owen Farrell that created a try for England’s Jack Nowell at Murrayfield.

It was a sign the northern hemisphere can produce props comfortable in the open spaces—as long as they can do their primary jobs properly.

The following day, Evans started for the first time in a Six Nations match and added his name to the list of looseheads who have the lot, right next to Vunipola. 

He spearheaded a dominant Welsh scrum in Dublin and earned a rave review in the Telegraph’s post-match player ratings: "[He] was tremendous in the set-piece, in the loose and in defence. [He] seemed to be everywhere and proved that there can be loosehead life after Gethin Jenkins."

After an impressive start against another inexperienced international prop in Nathan White of Ireland, the name of WP Nel on the Scottish teamsheet represented an altogether tougher challenge.

Nel has earned rave reviews since qualifying to play for Scotland, and he made light work of Joe Marler—a player with vastly more minutes to his name at the highest level than Evans.

But the Welshman did not wilt in the face of the South African-born man’s reputation, or his attempts to disrupt Wales’ put-in.

The scrum was a solid platform for Wales for the bulk of the contest, and Evans gave as good as he got from the former Cheetahs player.

WalesOnline’s Simon Thomas gave him eight out of 10 and wrote: "We were expecting him to face a tougher scrummaging test from WP Nel than he did out in Dublin, but he more than stood up to it, twice winning penalties with huge shoves on the South African. His international initiation continues in impressive fashion."

He was replaced on 47 minutes by Jenkins—more a sign of needing to get used to coping with the pace of this level for that last half-hour than any distress flares about his performance.

He had come through with honours from a tussle in which he started as anything but the favourite.