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Gareth Davies: 'I feel like there is a bit of pressure on me to perform as well as he did'
Gareth Davies readily acknowledges that the battle for Wales’ number nine shirt is an intense one.
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Scarlets scrum-half Davies has won the vote for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash against Italy in Rome, where victory would tighten Wales’ title grip and leave them one win away from a Grand Slam.
He takes over from Scarlets colleague Kieran Hardy, who marked his first Six Nations start with a try-scoring display when Wales clinched the Triple Crown by beating England last month.
Hardy, though, then suffered a hamstring injury, while Davies’ fellow 2019 World Cup scrum-half Tomos Williams is continuing his recovery from a hamstring problem that has sidelined him since this season’s opening Six Nations weekend.
With Cardiff Blues’ Lloyd Williams also in the scrum-half mix – and 2017 British and Irish Lion Rhys Webb not even part of Wayne Pivac’s current Wales squad – competition shows no sign of slowing up.
“Kieran was outstanding last week against England and was unfortunate to pick up that little hamstring injury,” Davies said, ahead of winning a 61st cap.
“I feel like there is a bit of pressure on me to perform as well as he did.
“It’s about doing the basics right, managing the game well, playing in the right areas and bringing as much tempo as possible.
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“Throughout my whole career, there has always been a lot of competition for the scrum-half jersey, so I am used to it.
“I have always said that’s healthy as a player. It is only a good thing for the squad to have so much competition. It keeps us all on our toes.”
Davies will oppose Italy scrum-half Stephen Varney on Saturday – and they hail from neighbouring counties, with Carmarthenshire-born Davies lining up against a son of Pembrokeshire.
Gloucester prospect Varney, though, qualified for Italy through his mother and is in the early stages of a Test career with the Azzurri.
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“zero risk does not exist".
Fabien now says he and his French players have not broken protocols ?https://t.co/xdaCvHCU6r
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 11, 2021
“It’s a small world, isn’t it?” Davies added.
“He is a Pembrokeshire boy and out there playing international rugby in Italy. It’s quite strange, but it is good for him.
“He has come through really well and he is a good player. I’ve watched him play a few times for Gloucester and played against him a little bit in the autumn internationals as well.
“We know what his strengths are, so we will have to keep an eye on him. I am looking forward to the competition.”
Italy have named their side for Wales #sixnationshttps://t.co/gKhFN46WyS
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 11, 2021
Wales are firm favourites to topple Varney and company on Saturday, chasing a 16th successive victory over Italy, while their hosts have not won a Six Nations game since 2015.
An anticipated Wales triumph would then set up a full-scale title and Grand Slam tilt against France in Paris next week.
“The team Wayne has picked for this week shows them (Italy) a lot of respect,” Davies said.
“It won’t be an easy challenge. I am sure it will be a tough game for us, but hopefully one we can come out on top of.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Absolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
5 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
4 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
5 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to comments