Wales debutant's freakish breakdown stats are the best in Europe
Today James Davies will win his first cap for Wales and many think it’s long overdue.
Davies is 27-years-old, just two years younger than his more famous older brother Jonathan, yet it has taken until now for ‘Cubby Boi’ to gain international honours.
He’s a true openside – a backrow renowned for his abilities at the breakdown and what’s more, the statistics back up the hype.
According to Opta, Davies has won 128 turnovers in 73 games for the Scarlets since his debut, which works out at an average of 1.8 turnovers per game is the best of any PRO14, Premiership or TOP 14 player in all competitions in that time.
1.8 – James Davies has won 1?2?8? turnovers in 7?3? games for @scarlets_rugby since his debut, his average of 1?.8?turnovers per game is the best of any PRO14, Premiership or TOP 14 player in all competitions in that time. Recognition. pic.twitter.com/12JYVULmyt
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) March 8, 2018
Only veteran groundhog Steffon Armitage can boast more turnovers.
128 – Overall, Steffon Armitage is the only PRO14, Prem or T14 player to have won more turnovers in all comps than James Davies since his debut:@Magicsteffo7 – 158 turnovers, 101 games@cubbyboi – 128, 73
Levani Botia – 109, 73@Dave_Ward2 – 106, 95
Said Hireche 91, 86Jackal.
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) March 8, 2018
Despite standout performances for Pro14 champions the Scarlets, he has had wait in line at what has been a stacked Welsh backrow in recent years. Davies told the BBC that he feared the call up might never come: “It was frustrating, but I have tried to keep working.
“I felt like I have played consistently but I have not been getting that chance, so you do think it’s never going to happen.
“But we are here now, and I have got that chance, and I want to take it with both hands.
“It was frustrating, but I have tried to just keep working on what I need to do a bit better.”
Hard to think of more deserving debut than James Davies' or more patient international than Justin Tipuric. Given their talents, thrilling to see them on same pitch from start this weekend. However, that's not to decry Josh Navidi who has been excellent too #embarrassmentofriches
— Miles Harrison (@MilesHarrisonTV) March 7, 2018
Davies is no slouch over the ground either; he’s represented Wales Sevens and was part of the Great Britain squad that played in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
1st cap for James Davies in much changed Welsh team to face Italy #WALvITA #NatWest6Nations pic.twitter.com/TyQV7rwCBR
— Mike Pearce Rugby (@MPsportsdragon) March 7, 2018
His name ‘Cubby’ or ‘Cubby Boi’ is a derivative of his brother ‘Jonathan Davies’ nickname – “Fox”.
Comments on RugbyPass
One overlooked statistic from their 2016 winning season is the Huricanes are still the only team in Super rugby history not to concede a try during the playoff rounds.
3 Go to commentsThanks for the article, Nick. The Nienaber blitz D does ask a lot of its scrumhalf. I have been watching JGP on D and he often looks like he has mastered what Nienaber asks for better than Faf de Klerk and Cobus Reinach! 🤣 Impressive season by JGP if I must make an understatement.
21 Go to commentsOkay last one. I promise. I think it’s despicable for Andy Goode to suggest that Eben can’t count to 12. To be fair he only had to count to 8 - the number of Irishmen who DIDN’T say that. Less the 3 kiwis of course. 23 - 12 - 3 = 8. See Joe. I can do maffs.
7 Go to commentsCheers, Nick! How do you see the Reds’ Jock Campbell’s play this year? Not as strong a carrier as Andrew Kellaway or Tom Wright, but does avoid errors. Do you see Joe Schmidt as wanting safety first at 15 or a try-assisting counterattacker?
84 Go to commentsI’m sure this was all just a big misunderstanding. Irishmen and Afrikaaners conversing in a noisey stadium. Not easy to get the right messages across. A minefield.
7 Go to commentsSay what you will about Andy Goode. But he is right about one thing… I’m not sure what that one thing is exactly… but I’m willing to hear him out.
7 Go to commentsAnother article to bait and trigger Irish fans. This must stop.
7 Go to commentsHi Nick. Thanks for your +++ ongoing analysis. Re Vunivalu, He’s been benched recently and it will be interesting to see what Kiss does with him as we enter the backend of SRP. I’m still not sold.
84 Go to commentsIn the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
1 Go to commentsI’d be fascinated to see what other candidates you all might have for the Lions captaincy role. Let me know, below 👍
2 Go to comments“ planning for the next cycle….” Sigh ill-advised language Elton old juice bean. Ppersonally glad you self-eliminated yourself, there were better players in the position around you.
3 Go to commentsRegardless of best in world etc. Lawes was outstanding against Leinster and has been all season. Looked like three try saving turnovers. His turnovers also contributed to NH scores. Immense performance.
2 Go to commentsDickson now considered the top ref in England it appears. Good that these series are getting one NH and one SH ref.
2 Go to commentsI don’t think any coach or selector would ever rely on Blackadder being available for selection. I didn’t think it would be possible but he has easily eclipsed Ennor as they most injured player of all time. IMO a symptom of today’s game where players are required to carry at least 10kg of extra mass from when they first hit the scene in their early 20s. Some players respond well to this, maybe due to genetics allowing them to recover faster, or not having reached their peak natural weight yet, but for others the constant training to maintain their weight eats away at recovery time and they spend most of their careers injured.
4 Go to commentsThanks for the lesson Nick! I presume that targeting gaps is situational because if a ball carrier straightens the line they can't be allowed a gap to run into? It feels like you need depth if you're going to pass it wide and plenty of variety - straight running, kicks just in behind, cross kicks etc. BTW what an incredible bench Toulouse had this week. People complain about Leinster being stacked but they need to be at the very highest level.
21 Go to comments2015 was by far the best team. They have had many good backlines over the years but the 2015 team was one of the few to have an absolute world class forward pack - all of them international quality. 6 ABs, 1 future English player, and one that would have gone on to ABs had he not been forced to retire due to concussion. This current team doesn’t have the same size and experience at lock, but providing they can keep this many talented young players (who have all significantly increased their profile this year) together for another 2 years they could eclipse the 2015 team.
3 Go to commentsAnd I’ve just seen RA has topped up the offer to Paisami and extended it beyond 3 years and he’s signed. Great news
84 Go to commentsInteresting watching Amaua starting to fire. No idea why he was pulled so early against the Reds.
4 Go to commentsNice to read something positive about Vunivalu; it doesn’t happen often. I despair for rugby in Oz. Unless some form of compensation for the teams producing players is devised, there is no obvious way for us to combat poachers coming to grab players in their prime with bigger pay cheques. A return to the SR crowds we were getting in 2010-2014 and a quadrupling of the TV deal would be a start but I don’t see how those things happen. Perhaps the government could be encouraged to deliver tax breaks like in Ireland?
84 Go to commentsI wasn’t aware that the blitz targeted space so, as usual, something learned from reading one of your articles, Nick. Watching the game live I attributed the Saints’ inaccuracy to their own mistakes and nerves. Perhaps some credit to the Leinster D.
21 Go to comments