WALES forwards coach Robin McBryde has backed tighthead Samson Lee to take the expectations of a nation in his stride.

The international retirement of Adam Jones means an awful lot rests on the broad shoulders of the Scarlets prop, who is his country’s first choice tighthead at the tender age of 22.

The Ospreys’ Aaron Jarvis and Cardiff Blues’ Scott Andrews, a pair not exactly famed for their scrummaging prowess, are his Six Nations back-ups so it was a relief to hear that Lee has been declared fit to start against England on Friday after being hindered by a neck injury.

And McBryde believes that the pressure of being the cornerstone of the Welsh pack in World Cup year won’t get to Lee, who usurped Jones on the tour to South Africa last summer.

“His nature just speaks for itself,” said McBryde. “He is an individual character who takes everything in his stride, he doesn’t try to be anything he isn’t.

“After the South Africa game in the autumn, he asked the team manager if he could go ferreting the day after and be excused (from the team social).”

Lee will be looking to thrive against an England tight five that will be formidable even without Dan Cole, David Wilson, Courtney Lawes and Geoff Parling.

McBryde has already stressed the importance of French official Jerome Garces given the recent tussles between the sides.

In 2013 England coach Graham Rowntree went to the IRB for clarification on the scrum decisions made by Steve Walsh and last year Gethin Jenkins was whistled off the park by Romain Poite before eventually being sin-binned.

“The players who play in England tell you how much scrummaging and driving mauls they have week in, week out,” said McBryde.

“They will be a tough nut to crack and the man in the middle will be important because in the last two games against England we fell on the wrong side of one ref and not the other.

“We have just got to make sure we are as legal as we can be, and as effective as we can be.”

Their Aviva Premiership clubs have released their Wales players for preparations at the Vale of Glamorgan headquarters this week as they are not required for LV= Cup duty.

The Wales management will also be closely watching the performance of Scarlets hooker Ken Owens, who makes his return from a neck injury against London Irish today.

“It is good to see Ken back and I am sure for the 40 minutes he will have he will be as dynamic as ever. I am looking forward to getting him back,” said McBryde.

Wales have selected hookers Richard Hibbard, Scott Baldwin and Kristian Dacey in their Six Nations squad but will be tempted to recall Owens, who was first-choice against the Springboks last summer.