Business as usual for Josh as he looks to cap a season to remember
ASK Josh Navidi whether Wales stardom has changed him at all and you get an answer which sums up the nature of the man.
“I don’t think I have changed too much to be honest. It feels the same,” he replies.
“I just go about my business the same way as before.
“I do what I’ve always been doing, to be fair. “If it’s not broke, why change it?” It’s a philosophy which makes absolute sense because it was Navidi’s stalwart service with Cardiff Blues, his week-in, week-out excellence which finally earned him a Wales recall.
After four years in the international wilderness as a one-cap wonder, he has gone on to start nine of the last 11 Tests for his country.
Having grabbed the chance handed to him by injuries in the autumn, he retained the No.7 jersey through the Six Nations, despite the intense competition created by the return to fitness of Justin Tipuric, James Davies and Ellis Jenkins.
It has, by any measure, been a memorable season for the likeable 27-yearold, who stands as proof that you should never give up.
“I have been involved in camps before, but it was nice to actually be involved in the games and playing so much,” he said.
“The game against Scotland is probably what sticks in my mind most.
“Playing my first Six Nations match and having my family there and obviously being on the pitch.
“It is built up a lot more than the autumn internationals. Everything is at stake. You know if you lose one game you are battling to finish top of the table.
“It showed how close it was at the end. If we had slipped up against France we would have finished fifth, so it was nice to get that win and finish second.
“I really enjoyed it. My body came through all right and it was a great experience.
“I am enjoying my rugby at the minute and that’s all that matters at the end of the day.
“Hopefully I can carry on here with the Blues and take it forward from there.”
And as for that intense battle for the Test openside berth, he says: “It’s Welsh rugby.
“We are nurtured in that position now, which is a good thing for everyone. There’s a lot of competition and it’s good for our country.”
Over the years, Navidi has become used to remaining with his region during international periods and seeing the likes of Sam Warburton and Gethin Jenkins head off on Test duty.
Now the roles have been reversed, with the Bridgend boy being the one away in Wales camp for seven weeks and now having to slot back into regional mode as he prepares for tomorrow’s Challenge Cup quarterfinal against Edinburgh at Murrayfield. “It is a bit strange really,” he said. “But I wasn’t too far away just across the way at the Vale hotel, so I saw the boys all the time.
“It’s just lineout calls you have to get used to again more than anything when you come back into the region.
“Sometimes you get them mixed up and you are trying to remember calls from before.
“I came in last week just to make sure I was up to speed for this game and I think I know most of them. We will find out on the weekend!
“I will look over the sheet and do all my analysis, so I know what I am doing on the day.
“I’ve caught up on the calls and now I’m straight back into it.”
Navidi has returned to a Blues camp where the mood is very upbeat after seven successive wins in the league and Europe.
“The attitude and positivity is there