Adam Jones has admitted he was "shocked" Nicky Smith hasn't been picked by Wales more, as he praised the loosehead for his impact against Ireland.
The Leicester prop, who briefly played with Wales' temporary scrum coach at the Ospreys, was handed just his fifth start in Wales' last 50 matches as Matt Sherratt took interim charge following Warren Gatland's departure.
Gatland, like Wayne Pivac before him, rarely called upon Smith - starting him twice in his ill-fated second stint. Once was against Portugal in the 2023 World Cup, while he was also brought into the starting side at late notice for last November's defeat to South Africa in Cardiff.
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However, after Cardiff coach Sherratt was handed control for the remainder of the Six Nations, one of his first steps was to hand Smith a rare start in the Welsh jersey.
And the 52-cap prop didn't disappoint, helping Wales win a spate of early penalties against the Irish.
Jones, who would have been a key voice in giving Smith the start through his role as scrum consultant, is unsure why the 30-year-old hasn't been used more, but is glad to have him available to bolster Wales' scrum.
"To be honest, looking from the outside, I was shocked," he said about the continued absence of Smith in Wales' run-on pack. "He made his Ospreys debut with me.
"I think it was against Munster in 2014. He’s been around for a while. I always remember him as a young fella. He’s always been strong, like gym-strong.
"I played against him for Cardiff and he shoved my head right up my backside. Albeit the new rules, not the hit and chase so my game had gone at the time. Maybe with the old rules, I’d have done ok.
"He was a strong boy and I’ve always thought he was a really good player. Going to Leicester and seeing him again, if you’re a Leicester prop, you have to have that scrummaging mentality. He’s certainly got it.
"He’s been excellent. Gareth Thomas is a massive leader off the pitch for us and around the defence. They actually balance out pretty well. Both good scrummagers.
"Both came through a region with a long line of dominant prop forwards. So history dictates they have to be a good scrummager at the Ospreys. He’s been good. I don’t know why he wasn’t picked, because I wasn’t here, but I’m glad to have him here. He’s been good for us."
Among the many positives from Wales' 29-18 defeat to Grand Slam-chasing Ireland in Round 3, the scrum was certainly an improvement from Gatland's last match in charge in Rome.
On the other side of the scrum, WillGriff John - winning just his third cap and his first for nearly four years - held his own against likely Lions tourist Andrew Porter.
John's selection had raised eyebrows prior, but the Sale tighthead was someone who had been on Jones' radar for some time - with the former Lions prop aware of the job he could do at Test level.
"He was excellent," added Jones. "Nicky did a really good job along with Elliot (Dee).
"Will is someone I was aware about years ago, coming through. He did a good job with Sale. He came back to Wales to further his chances. It didn’t work out but he’s a big, strong boy.
"He’s probably the strongest in the squad, apart from myself. Going up against Porter, with how he scrummages, he was probably the guy to go against Porter. He’s pretty square.
"But not even that, he was pretty good around the field. He made tackles. He ran over Sheehan once which gave us the gainline for Tom Rogers to score in the corner. I was pleased for him.
"He works mega hard. I’ve seen him for Sale recently. He was good for Sale in the Champions Cup against the Stormers. They lost but the scrum went well. So I’m pleased for him. He’s a lovely kid. He’s been around a bit now to find his mojo.
"No doubt he’ll do a good job this weekend, as will Nicky. Nicky was outstanding. They didn’t play (Finlay) Bealham. I don’t know if they thought it would be a walk in the park. But it wasn’t.
"We’re in a good place scrum-wise. We’re still getting relationships with them, which is a big thing in coaching. Hopefully we’ll do a good job on the weekend."
