How Persistent Cracknell Earned Wales Shot At 31

Autumn Nations Series: Wales v Argentina

Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Sunday, 9 November Kick-off: 15:10 GMT

Coverage: Commentary connected BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and unrecorded matter connected BBC Sport online.

International life is group to statesman astatine 31 for Olly Cracknell aft nan backmost statement was rewarded for his perseverance – and physicality – pinch a spot connected Wales' chair for Sunday's autumn opener against Argentina.

Cracknell initially missed retired connected Steve Tandy's squad for nan 4 November Tests but past Taulupe Faletau suffered a knee injury playing for Cardiff.

Impressive Prem shape earned nan Leicester man a call-up and Cracknell is poised to make an effect disconnected nan chair against nan Pumas successful Cardiff.

It will beryllium a emergence to world level for a hard-working, no-nonsense guardant who arrives astatine Principality Stadium via Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC) successful Colwyn Bay, Ospreys, London Irish and then, aft nan Exiles' financial collapse, Tigers.

There person been 30 older Welshmen connected Test debut, pinch nan oldest being 34-year-old William Radford, of Newport RFC, successful 1923.

Legendary Pontypool prop Tony Faulkner was besides 34 erstwhile he yet made his Wales debut against France successful Paris successful 1975, going connected to triumph 19 caps.

The oldest antheral debutant successful nan master era is Dragons stalwart Jason Forster, who was 33 erstwhile winning his solitary headdress against Argentina successful 2004.

Dual-code world Anthony Sullivan was 32 erstwhile he faced nan Pumas successful 2001, while tight-head prop Henry Thomas and fastener Olly Kohn were some 31 and somewhat older than Cracknell erstwhile facing England and Ireland respectively.

The back-rower's reward for plugging distant will travel connected Sunday erstwhile he becomes nan 1216th subordinate to correspond his country.

Cracknell edged retired 20-year-old Morgan Morse to look nan Pumas and will beryllium keen to make an belief successful nan countdown to nan 2027 Rugby World Cup.

"When we named nan squad connected Monday and Olly was announced you spot nan emotion," said Tandy, who coached Cracknell astatine Ospreys.

"I felt affectional seeing personification who's gone connected specified a travel to get that opportunity later connected successful his career. I deliberation it's an astonishing story."

Cracknell, who made six appearances for Wales Under-20s, came adjacent to a headdress erstwhile astatine Ospreys successful 2017.

Warren Gatland called up nan forward, calved successful Leeds pinch a Welsh grandfather, for nan Six Nations, but Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau, Ross Moriarty and James King featured.

Cracknell near Ospreys for London Irish successful 2021 and their demise led to a move to Leicester nan pursuing summer.

It was astatine Welford Road that Wales adjunct coach Danny Wilson sewage a first existent sensation of his attributes.

"It was only from moving pinch him that I saw what he is tin of," said nan erstwhile Dragons, Scarlets, Cardiff, Bristol and Glasgow coach.

"He is very quiet, gets connected pinch his activity and is very master but is reliable and physical.

"He's a awesome illustration of personification who has worked very difficult and stayed connected task, some successful nan United Rugby Championship and Prem, to get his opportunity to beryllium brought into nan squad."

The beingness of Jasper Wiese meant that Cracknell initially appeared plentifulness of times astatine flanker and disconnected nan bench, but nan strong-running South Africa number 8 near Welford Road successful 2024.

Cracknell stepped up and started 23 times past play erstwhile helping Tigers to nan Prem final, while he has started astatine number 8 successful 4 of 5 rounds successful 2025-25 pinch 1 outing arsenic a replacement.

He is tasked pinch being nan destructive unit successful an uncompromising convention for a nine that prides itself connected battalion power.

"He is knocking group backmost pinch his ball-carrying and tackling," said Wales loose-head prop and nine team-mate Nicky Smith.

"It's awesome to person him astir and I person nary uncertainty that he will show what he has been doing for Leicester."

Tandy earned his chance arsenic Wales leader pinch his exploits arsenic a defence coach and against a notoriously beingness Argentina team, has opted for a man that relishes collisions.

Pumas hooker Julian Montoya could find himself connected nan receiving extremity of a deed from a man who made a large belief connected him astatine Welford Road.

"I emotion 'Crackers'. He is an astonishing man and I americium really happy for him," said nan 32-year-old, who near for Pau astatine nan extremity of past season.

"He has been outstanding successful Leicester pinch nan measurement that he has played and carried himself arsenic a man.

"I person monolithic respect for him and I americium not amazed astatine each that he has been picked.

"He carries nan shot difficult each game, tackles and is relentless pinch his physicality. He is simply a reliable player."

Now, almost 12 years aft heading to Colwyn Bay pinch RGC, Cracknell will effort to show that connected nan Test stage.