Cockbain played in the 2005 Grand Slam team and but did not feature in the World Cup training squad.

He has won 24 Wales caps and has joined Sale on a two-and-a-half year deal, having struggled for first team rugby at the Ospreys due to locks Ian Gough, Ian Evans and Alun Wyn Jones.

'(New Wales coach) Warren Gatland has a lot of good locks to choose from and it will be subjective, a case of whose head fits in,' Cockbain told BBC Sport.

'Most of us know little about him. He has more detail on us than vice versa.

'It'll be interesting to see what he does, whether he can break people as he's promised. Maybe some need it, he will have good fun trying to break me.'