Judgement Day: Wales players face final audition before summer tour

Scarlets hooker Ryan Elias says Wales’ summer hopefuls will feel the pressure at Judgement Day at the Cardiff City Stadium on 1 June.

The Welsh regional double-header next Saturday is a couple of days before Wales head coach Warren Gatland names his squad on 3 June for the Twickenham Test against South Africa on 22 June and the tour of Australia in July.

“Most players would say they feel that pressure because you know the squad is going to be announced a couple of days later,” said Elias.

“You know it’s your last audition to put your best foot forward to be named in the squad.”

Elias will go head-to-head with Wales rival Elliot Dee when Scarlets face Dragons in the opening game before Ospreys play Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship (URC) double-header.

Dee is the man currently in possession of the Wales hooking berth, having started the last four Six Nations matches after Elias got the nod for the opener, while Dewi Lake is back fit to add to the competition for the national number two jersey.

“Elliot is a very good friend of mine,” said Elias.

“In camps together, we are kind of drawn to each other. We go through the same things, feel the same sort of pressures and confide in each other. He’s a good mate.

“But we won’t hold any punches when it comes to game time. We enjoy getting stuck into each other.

“It’s that personal sort of battle at scrum time or around the park if we can get a shot at each other.”