The regions may have missed out on the new ‘Shane’ – Bearman
HIS last club saw him as their version of Shane Williams and he has been officially saluted as the best player in the Principality Premiership, but no region has been willing to give Stef Andrews a deal at senior level. It’s a weird one, all right. Andrews scored 13 tries in 19 games for Aberavon last season and, despite his move to Merthyr, the Wizards’ website still carries a glowing player biog which says of the 25-year-old wing: “He is the Shane Williams of the side in that his trickery with or without the ball is top class, as is his change of pace, bravery and ability to pop up at scrum half when needed.”
He moved to The Wern in the summer and has already impressed his new team-mate Joe Bearman so much that the vastly experienced former Osprey reckons the regions might be missing a beat in failing to snap up Andrews.
“He’s really good,” said Bearman of the Welsh Rugby Writers Association’s Principality Premiership player of the year for 2016-17.
“While he’s quite a small guy, he’s strong, quick and extremely dangerous.
“I definitely think he would give the professional game a good shot.
“The regions could be missing out on a player who might do a really good for one of them.
“The way I look at it is here we have this lad who is already a good player. If he had access to everything a professional player has access to, the full-time training, dietary advice and all the rest of it, then you wonder how far he could go, say, in the space of four years.
“We won’t know the answer to that question unless someone gives him a proper try.
“If it didn’t work out, then he could go back to being a semi-professional.”
That said, Bearman is clear about the challenges any young player faces when he attempts to step up to the world of pay for play.
The 38-year-old back rower was regarded as one the best-conditioned players at the Ospreys throughout his time there but stresses there is more to being a professional than simply working hard in the gym.
“It is about being completely dedicated to what you do,” he said.
“A good professional is diligent about how he recovers after a game, about his weight and about his sleep. He will watch what he eats and look for every means of improving himself. He needs the right mindset and needs to live his job.
“It isn’t for everyone and there is always an element of doubt about whether a young player will be suited mentally and physically to it. Having raw ability is only the start.”
Bearman left the Ospreys after a notable contribution that spanned 101 games over six seasons.
The Cornwall-born No. 8 proved a popular figure at the region and says it hurts him to see the difficulties his old team have encountered so far this season. “I’m gutted for them,” he said. “It’s my club and some of my best friends are there, so of course I want them to be doing well.
“My understanding is they have made a few tweaks to their game and it is now a question of adapting.
“I’m sure they will get there. They have world-class players in that squad, like Alun Wyn Jones, Webby (Rhys Webb) and Tips (Justin Tipuric), and those guys will ensure the situation eventually turns around. “But it isn’t an overnight job. “It could take until Christmas before the players are totally comfortable and the results start coming again. Maybe it could take until next season.
“And, as last Friday evening showed, there are pretty much no easy games in Guinness PRO Rugby any more. There was a time when every side travelled to Italy expecting a win, but Treviso are an improved side these days and so are Zebre.
“You just have to do all you can to keep getting better yourselves.”
Bearman is settling after his step down to Merthyr. “I’m enjoying it,” he said.
“I had a bump a few weeks ago and then a new baby daughter joined us, but the lads are great and I still get a huge buzz out of playing.”