Lake still in shock at surreal Six Nations call-up

DEWI Lake still can’t believe his Wales Six Nations call, but the 21-yearold plans to use his brief experience of a Test environment to become Ospreys hooker.

Former Wales U20 skipper Lake received a surprise summons from head coach Wayne Pivac in February to cover for the injured Elliot Dee and travelled to Dublin as a reserve for the defeat by Ireland.

“I’m still shocked about it,” Lake told TRP. “I had played a few games for the Ospreys and to get the call was a great experience.

“To walk into the team room was surreal – Alun Wyn Jones is there, Dan Biggar is there – and I’m thinking a few months ago I was watching these guys on TV. Then you are stood there having your photo taken with them.”

Lake experienced the Wales camp as an apprentice for the 2019 clash with the Barbarians, but the Six Nations was his first call-up proper.

“The Barbarians week was just to get a bit of experience in camp,” Lake said.

“Ioan Davies, Kieran Hardy and Tiaan ThomasWheeler

were there too and knowing a few of the guys from that experience just made things more comfortable for me being in that environment again.

“We were in the middle of a session and Wayne came across and said I was going to get the call-up. I just said thank you because I was still in shock. I didn’t know how to react and it is still shocking to me now!”

Lake continued: “I did a lot of work on my throwing with Huw Bennett, and being able to perform with those men was a massive step for my confidence.

“Hooker is one the positions at the Ospreys where they are not lacking in quality, but I enjoy the competition and I’m looking forward to it – the next World Cup is a goal of mine.”