Why Blues ace Evans isn’t lacking in self-confidence as he looks to shine
WARREN Gatland tells a tale which says much about the confidence of the latest model to roll off the Wales No.10 production line.
It was what Jarrod Evans said after linking up with the national squad for the autumn internationals that most caught the attention of the Wales boss.
“He mentioned it was about time he was here considering he had been playing in front of Gareth Anscombe for the last two years,” recalled Gatland.
Anscombe was busy at the time establishing himself as Gatland’s first-choice playmaker at outsidehalf.
But Evans, it could be argued, had a valid point because when he and Anscombe were both available for Cardiff Blues it was invariably he that started with the latter at full-back.
Ironically, the knee injury which has put Anscombe out of the reckoning for the World Cup has opened the door for Evans or Rhys Patchell, or both to join certainty Dan Biggar in Gatland’s final squad of 31.
Evans’ Blues teammate Josh Navidi, who skippers Wales when they face Ireland at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, backed the 5ft 10in and 13st 6lb Evans to come up trumps during his first start in the No.10 jersey made famous by the likes of rugby geniuses Cliff Morgan, Barry John, Phil Bennett and Jonathan ‘Jiffy’ Davies.
“He’s a fantastic player that I rate really highly. As long as we get good front-foot and the ball on a plate for him then it will be happy days,” predicted Navidi.
“Hopefully, we don’t put him under too much pressure. He has the skill-set, so it’ll be nice to see him let loose at home.”
Evans has had to battle against adversity to break through with the Blues and Wales; an horrific broken jaw sidelining him for months and forcing him to eat Christmas dinner through a straw.
“I did my ankle, which took quite a bit to come back from, then I did my jaw at Exeter,” he said.
“I split my jaw down the middle, which wasn’t very nice. I had Christmas dinner through a straw. It was like that for weeks, they said all I could have was blended up food, soup and milkshakes
“I couldn’t speak either. The problem I had was I had to keep my jaw locked so it was a tough few months. I have got permanent plates in it but it’s all good now.”
When you consider the trauma of that injury, it’s remarkable the Pontypridd product hasn’t suffered any psychological effect with rugby being a contact sport where knocks are common.
What makes Wales Under-16, 18 and 20 international Evans’ story even more compelling is he’s only recently turned 23 despite seeming to have been around for years.
He made his debut for Pontypridd at 17 and the Blues at 18, his first start for the region coming against Biggar and the Ospreys.
The key moment, he acknowledged, in seizing the Blues No.10 jersey, was his match-winning penalty against Connacht at Galway, when he came off the bench to fire over the kick in treacherous conditions to end a losing streak and kick-start a season that culminated in European Challenge Cup glory over Gloucester in Bilbao.
“That’s the one that sticks out for me. I had a tough kick into the wind. That’s where I think I have got my confidence from,” said Evans previously.
“Then I happened to have a run of games because Gareth was out with injury, giving me a bit of a window to play.
“Since then, my confidence has been pretty high. I’ve always had confidence in my ability but you have got to be out there playing quite a bit to gain experience.
“It’s not just me, it’s any 10, developing that kicking game, territory, game management, whatever you want to call it.”
Evans credits former Wales and Blues’ play-maker Nicky Robinson for the role he played as part-time kicking coach at the Arms Park in his rise towards the top.
Robinson worked on technical aspects of Evans’ game and in managing certain situations on the pitch.
Evans has grown in stature from his emergence in Connacht and the pinpoint, long cut-out pass he threw to put lock Seb Davies through a gap in their European Challenge Cup semi-final triumph over French club Pau to create a try for Anscombe was out of the top drawer and had watchers gasping in admiration.
“I like to play what’s in front of me and take control of the attacking side of the game, organising the boys around me and what we do,” said Manchester United supporter Evans
Evans has played less than 10 minutes of Test rugby, as a replacement against Scotland last November and England a couple of weeks ago.
He came on against England with a few minutes left and with Wales’ opponents in hot pursuit of the converted try which would have earned them a draw.
“It can be quite difficult coming off the bench, especially when the game is in the balance, a one-score game but I am just grateful that I got on,” said Evans.
He had just one touch but it ensured the final whistle and victory, booting the ball out of play after the match clock turned red.
Now Evans gets his first start for Wales and the chance to show what he can do.
“It is just trying to perform the best you can and putting your best foot forward. That’s all you can do,” he said.
“My sole focus is the game and how I can get the team to perform to the best it can and how I can get my individual game on the money as well.
“We have a strategy of how we want to go about this game.
“You have got to do what is best for the side.
“We have always been team first, whatever is best for the team, and anything after that is a bonus.”
Evans wants to bring the exciting, attacking style employed by the Blues into the Wales jersey.
“I like to say I can bring that to the game.
“The more I’ve come up here (with Wales) I’ve just focused on how hard I’ve worked and my game, and that hasn’t changed really.
“If I can get both right then hopefully everything will just fall into place off the back of that.
“The biggest challenge for us is how quickly we can come together as a team with 14 changes, with a couple of new caps, me making my first start and a new captain.
“So there’s a lot to cram in really. But we are all looking forward to it and going out there and showing what we can do.”
Gatland names his World Cup squad at 2pm on Sunday but the nine players to miss out will receive the bad news just before the announcement by their preferred method.
“We had the option and I just chose text,” said Evans.
But he hopes his telephone won’t ‘ping’ before the 31-strong party is announced, quipping he will turn it off to ensure he doesn’t receive an unwanted message.
Evans knows the ball is in his court, so to speak, for a controlling display and getting the Welsh back-line firing against Ireland, could result in his face and name popping up in the video in which Gatland will go public with the names of his World Cup aces.