Davies relishing pressure to deliver for Wales

JONATHAN Davies admits it took longer than anticipated to get back to top form after injury in the autumn but insists he is fresh for a huge World Cup year with Japan now on the horizon. The 30-year-old centre, voted man of the series for the Lions in their 2017 drawn Test series with New Zealand, is now fully fit after a serious foot injury and minor hamstring problem. It’s good news for Wales and Scarlets supporters. “Before the autumn it took me a while to get back up to speed and get my confidence back,” Davies told The Rugby Paper. “After being out for so long it’s just nice being on the field. “There are little things in my game which can improve like accuracy and that comes with a period of playing. “I’m nearly there, but for me it’s about delivering the highest level of skill at international level and in big games with the Scarlets. “I have to make sure that when I need to deliver in a pressure moment, I deliver. When you come back from an injury, you get a little bit of leeway, but now I need to ensure I’m at 100 per cent. “There is pressure and people look to me to deliver a performance, but I enjoy that pressure. I perform best when people expect things.” Davies has been a regular for the Scarlets since starting three of Wales’ four autumn wins, but results for Wayne Pivac’s men have been inconsistent. “We are in a very fortunate position as players and it doesn’t last forever. I have enjoyed being back in the game even though we haven’t had the best results at the Scarlets” he added. “We have got to start winning games because we expect that of ourselves.” Pivac will depart for Wales after the World Cup and will take current Scarlets attack coach Stephen Jones with him. “I have every confidence Steve will develop into a very good international coach,” Davies said. “From a Scarlets point of view I’m disappointed he’s leaving, but there is no better place for him to go than Wales.”