Wales assistant Rob Howley full of praise for Scarlets recruit Leigh Halfpenny
Wales assistant coach Rob Howley believes that Leigh Halfpenny is reaping the benefits of his move from Toulon to the Scarlets.
The Wales full-back and principal goalkicker is expected to retain the number 15 shirt for next month's Six Nations opener against Scotland.
Liam Williams provides another full-back option - many pundits feel he should be switched there from the wing - but 74 times-capped Halfpenny, who joined the Scarlets last summer, appears on course to retain pole position.
He has been part of a Scarlets side that has delivered some outstanding performances this season, building on last year's Guinness PRO12 title triumph.
"Leigh is a British Lion and a world-class full-back," Howley said.
"He can attack from the back field, and I saw positive signs of that in his game in the autumn, when he was beating the first and the second player. But it's all about those small margins in the back field about being able to put your wingers into space.
"Without being disrespectful to where he has come from in the last 12 months prior to the Scarlets, I think it is a different game in the UK. It is a different brand.
"He is being encouraged with the intent and ambition to play from the back field. I am not too sure those messages were the same over in France.
"Leigh has been able to get in at first receiver - you can see that for the Scarlets and Wales - and he is doing it more often because he is doing it week in, week out. In France, he was doing it less often.
"In France, when you speak about the likes of Leigh Halfpenny and Jon Davies (ex-Clermont Auvergne), the majority of times we saw them play, they were burying themselves at rucks as opposed to being on their feet playing the game.
"You have seen in both players a different skill-set because of the ambition and intent that they are playing within a (Scarlets) side that wants to play rugby."
Wales face a demanding Six Nations schedule, with resurgent Scotland in Cardiff on February 3 being followed by trips to tackle Six Nations title holders England and strongly-fancied Ireland.
If Wales get it right, they will be major title contenders. If it goes the other way, though, then a top-three finish could prove beyond them.
"We have never been afraid of going to Twickenham, and have had some relatively good results there in the World Cup and the Six Nations," Howley added.
"Games against England have always been very close, going to the last 10 minutes. We should have beaten them at home last season, but the forefront is Scotland.
"We have a big challenge, first up. They (Scotland) turned us over last year - something we are mindful of - and we want to start the tournament with the ability to play rugby and put them under pressure. We are looking to start fast and well.
"I know Gregor Townsend (Scotland head coach) very well, and he is a very good friend of mine. He has done a great job taking Scotland on from Vern Cotter and getting some outstanding victories in the autumn.
"I think it's going to be a cracking game. Wales-Scotland games always are in terms of the fast and furious brand of rugby."