Cheers, Sam... Lane hoping to toast semi-final success
OWEN Lane is planning on buying Sam Warburton a pint after being named by the Lions skipper as the most promising player in Welsh rugby this season.
Twenty-year-old Lane answered a SOS from coach Danny Wilson to perform emergency duty as a winger after injuries took a toll on Cardiff Blues’ established wide men.
And the Wales Under-20 international seized his opportunities with both hands to be a virtual ever-present since, even catching the eye of the sidelined Warburton.
“I really like Owen, considering where he’s come from. Probably, in pre-season, he didn’t think he was going to be getting many games,” said the Blues flanker, who is recovering from neck and knee operations.
“Kids come through the academy system and, yes, they’ve got nice skills and a good professional attitude, but sometimes you look at them athletically and think physically they might make regional, but not international level.
“But I think Owen has got the athleticism and physicality to play international rugby in time.
“To be his age, as confident and physically aggressive as he is, he’s had a great start so far. I think he’s been Blues and Wales’ most promising player this season.”
Although pleased to be namechecked, the bright and articulate Lane played down the remarks of ‘Captain Marvel’.
“They were kind words, but I think he’s just helping out a fellow Whitchurch boy. I will probably give him a pint for that,” quipped Lane.
The pair are past pupils at Whitchurch High School in Cardiff and Lane admits he’s learning about wing play on the hoof.
“It’s probably an easier way to come into the team on the wing, certainly defensively, because the game is so fast at this level,” he said.
“Wing probably gives me more licence to run off other players. You learn at this level every week from players and coaches.
“I get little tips from Blaine Scully about the number of touches on the ball and there’s the work-rate and talking from Alex Cuthbert.
“I definitely feel more confident although, maybe, I have dropped off in the last two weeks and have not performed as well. But, at this level and at my age, you’re not going to be 100% every game.”
Long-term, Lane wants to be a centre of attention – most of his career had been spent at No.13 – by following the likes of former New Zealand captain Tana Umaga and Blues’ product Jamie Roberts in moving into midfield from the wider channels.
“I played centre at the Under-20 World Cup in Georgia last summer and the coaches at the Blues have always used Jamie as an example of a player who moved into the centre,” Lane explained.
“That’s definitely where I want to try and end up, but I’m concentrating on wing at the moment.”
Llandaff RFC product Lane had two favourite players when he grew up, both of them back-to-back World Cup winners.
He was talking about New Zealand midfielders Dan Carter and Conrad Smith. And Lane could end up facing Smith in Saturday’s European Challenge Cup semi-final with Pau at Cardiff Arms Park.
Smith and fellow Kiwis, outsidehalf Colin Slade and centre Benson Stanley, have been starring for the Pyrenees’ club in the French Top 14.
“When I was growing up I always used to idolise Carter and Smith for the way they played the game,” said Lane.
“If I could play against Smith this weekend, it would be quite cool in what is a big occasion.”
But Lane isn’t taking anything for granted, stressing his selection against Pau isn’t guaranteed, while Smith has sat out some European action.
“It will be a tough challenge against such good opposition but it would be an exciting opportunity to play against players of the calibre of Slade, Steffon Armitage and Smith.
“It’s been quite surreal for me to come into this environment and to see what we have achieved has been pretty special.
“And doing it with my home region adds to it. If you live in the region, you want to play for the Blues and sample the buzz.
“At the start of the season I was hoping to get a few games for the first team. If I got a chance, I was determined to take it with both hands.”
Lane certainly has and could make the Wales squad for June’s internationals with South Africa and Argentina.
“If you’re a Welsh player in Wales, of course you want to play for Wales, but I don’t really want to think about it when I’m playing for the Blues,” he said.
Lane isn’t the only Blue building a case for higher honours, with attacking outside-half Jarrod Evans, 21, having also been making waves during their charge to a place in next season’s Champions Cup and to the last four in the Challenge Cup courtesy of a convincing victory at Edinburgh.
“Jarrod has been on fire this year and has been really starting to develop into a prominent player in our team,” said Lane.
“Playing alongside him is easy because he does a lot of work for you. And Rey Lee-Lo and Willis Halaholo in the centre nearly always beat the first man.
“If I’m selected, it will be the biggest game I have been involved in as a player but these are the ones you want to play in.”