Archive, March 2010: Scrum V impressed with man-of-the-match Knoyle

Wales coach Warren Gatland said he was thrilled by the potential of new squad scrum-half Tavis Knoyle after bringing the teenager into his summer reckoning.

"We are excited about Tavis, he is a big strong lad who has been compared to Mike Phillips," said Gatland after naming the Scarlet in a 27-man squad.

"He has a good pass, real speed and he has the frame as well so he has it all going for him and real potential."

Wales host South Africa on 5 June before a two-Test tour of New Zealand.

Scrum-halves Dwayne Peel and Gareth Cooper were ruled out by injury and Knoyle - who turns 20 on 2 June - has now risen above team-mate Martin Roberts for both region and country.

606: DEBATE Knoyle is a starlet in the making but Wayne Evans for me has been consistent in a team which has outperformed the Scarlets this year Gavin

That leaves the 6ft 1ins, 15st 12lbs Glynneath youngster competing with Mike Phillips and Richie Rees for the Wales jersey, Dragons scrum-half Wayne Evans not included in Gatland's selectorial thinking.

"We have been impressed with him," said Gatland of Knoyle.

"As a youngster he has come on really well and I know he has been spoken of in recent seasons as someone to watch.

"I'm a great believer in 'if you are good enough you are old enough' and that applies to the likes of both Tom Prydie and Tavis Knoyle.

"We have gone very much for continuity of selection and kept the squad small, but there are also a couple of youngsters in there who we are going to stick by."

Knoyle played his youth rugby for Glynneath and has impressed for Wales at Under-20, U18 and U16 levels.

Having graduated to the Neath side he was wanted by the Ospreys, with rumoured interest also coming from Leicester and Harlequins.

But he chose to join the Scarlets on a two-year deal last summer, coach Nigel Davies saying at the time that he was "as excited about Tavis as I was about Dwayne Peel and Mike Phillips at 18".

Davies has six of his squad in the Wales party, uncapped trio Knoyle, Rob McCusker and Ken Owens joining Stephen Jones, Matthew Rees and Jonathan Davies.

Our policy of exposing these younger Scarlets players to top-flight rugby and playing them in the big pressure games is paying off and has allowed them to mature Scarlets coach Nigel Davies

"This is great news for these boys, particularly Tavis, Ken and Rob who have really shown their talent, commitment and determination to improve this season with us," said Davies.

"It will be an invaluable experience for them to tour New Zealand and spend time with the Wales set-up and all the senior players.

"It will only enhance what they can bring back to the region next season.

"Our policy of exposing these younger Scarlets players to top-flight rugby and playing them in the big pressure games is paying off and has allowed them to mature, gain some great experience and prove themselves. We wish them all the best for these tests."

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