DAN LYDIATE

CAN it ever be the same for Lydiate again?

Or are his devastating performances of 2011-2012 – a veritable lifetime ago in sporting terms – destined to be as good as it gets from the blindside flanker? The chop tackles, the gladiatorial bravery, the rock-solid reliability.

Injuries have hammered him – serious ones as well, restricting him to just 11 starts over two seasons for the Ospreys.

Others have stepped up to fill his boots impressively on the Test front, including Aaron Shingler and Ross Moriarty: Shingler with his all-court game that sees him tackling, soaring high at line-outs, eating up ground with ball in hand; Moriarty with his raw physicality and edge, not bad selling points when blended with discipline.

Ellis Jenkins wore the No. 6 jersey with distinction in the second Test against Argentina recently.

And Justin Tipuric showed up well in that position for Wales for the final two rounds of last term’s Six Nations.

You could only feel sorry for Lydiate.

He returned from a spell in French rugby in 2014 wanting to acquire new skills at the Ospreys.

But he has suffered so many bumps, damaging a shoulder, hamstring, knee and bicep at various points over the past two years, that there have been few chances for him to add bells and whistles to his game.

That isn’t to say Warren Gatland will not be keeping an eye on him. THIS time last year Williams’ star was high in the sky.

He had returned from the Lions tour of New Zealand with many still rhapsodising about his break out of defence that triggered the unforgettable Sean O’Brien try in the series opener, a touchdown All Blacks coach Steve Hansen described as one of the best ever in Test rugby.

A move to then European champions Saracens would heighten Williams’ profile even more, the thinking went.

But the script went awry in a campaign spoiled by the abdominal injury he suffered while playing for