Aled playing the waiting game in new surroundings
A MAN can only train for so long without straining at the leash to actually see some on-pitch action.
Welcome to the world of Aled Davies.
In common with the rest of the Saracens squad, he’s had a watching brief at club level this season with the English Championship on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic.
But despite putting his Wales career on ice to head for the north London club last summer – the 60-cap rule has frozen him out as an exiled player – the 28-year-old scrum-half from Carmarthen has no regrets about his decision to seek out pastures news after stays with the Scarlets and Ospreys which left him well thought of by both regions.
“I’m enjoying the experience,” he says when Wales on Sunday contacted him during his lunchbreak at home.
“Obviously, you’d want to be playing.
“But we have some games coming up in a mini-tournament we’re involved in, so hopefully I’ll be able to get back on the pitch.
“I knew when I signed for Saracens that we’d be playing in the English Championship, so it’s not as if there’s anything to be surprised about.
“It’ll be great to be back on to the field. You can train as much as you want, but nothing beats playing.
“I think I’m 100 per cent better for the experience of coming up here to live and play.
“That’s not knocking Wales or the rugby. But you get a broader outlook by trying something different.
“I am at one of the best clubs in Europe, if not the best, and I’m training with some of the best players in the world.
“That’s not a bad situation to be in.” Indeed.
Saracens may be in the second tier of English rugby these days but there is nothing second-class about their operation.
With the likes of Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje, Mako Vunipola, Billy Vunipola, Jamie George, Elliot Daly and Vincent Koch in their set-up, they could still put out a XV which would give a hurry-up to most sides.
But it’s their culture which helps make them the club they are.
Davies has been there barely a handful of months but he’s seen enough already to be impressed. “They set high standards,” he says. “It’s a great environment and you can tell why they’ve won so many trophies. The coaches encourage us to speak up and show leadership and think for ourselves.
“There are problem-solving sessions, designed to help you resolve issues during matches. It’s a set-up that puts a value on hard work, but the boys still have a lot of fun.
“They could not have been more welcoming when I arrived.
“There are no egos in the environment, everyone gets along and there’s good banter.
“It’s a good set-up to be a part of. “The boys are class.”
It’s some trick Saracens have pulled off, then.
They may be loaded with big names, but the collective is all important.
They may have enough stars to have befuddled Patrick Moore in his Sky at Night pomp, but no-one is left excluded.
What has Davies made of Owen Farrell, a gent who, as England’s captain, large swathes of the Welsh public have been slow to warm to?
“He’s one of the nicest guys you could meet – down to earth and a proper family man,” says the 20-cap player, who boasts an 80 per cent win record with Wales.
“It’s absolutely the case that he’s a competitor and a winner, but that’s what the best sportsmen are.
“He’s a friendly guy and a top, top bloke.
“Another guy who was good when I came here was Richard Wigglesworth.
“He helped me integrate into the set-up. I learned a lot from him. “I think you have to keep learning. “Maro Itoje has achieved a lot in the game, but he and the likes of Faz [Farrell] still look to get better.
“I guess that’s what has got them to where they are, that kind of attitude.
“I don’t think I have seen people more driven.
“They help drive the club, set the standard and just love Saracens.”
Davies is also enjoying life in St Albans, where he has set up home, with the boy from Carmarthen at ease in his new surroundings.
“It’s a lovely place to live,” he says. “There are nice restaurants here and a farmers’ market every Wednesday and every Saturday in the middle of town where you can buy street food.
“It’s been difficult with the pandemic because you’re unable to get out and about much, but when we could move around we went to London, which is on our doorstep.
“Up here, outside of the club’s fans, the wider public are not so bothered with rugby.
“Of course it’s different back home. “When there were question marks over where I was going to play last year, I’d be walking the dog and people would stop me to say they’d heard rumours I was going to join such and such a club.
“In London, no-one recognises you.
“That’s OK. You don’t mind that at all.”
Davies is the latest Welsh export to Saracens, following in the footsteps of Dom Day and Liam Williams. Both proved big successes. Williams became something of a cult figure with his easy, talk-to-anyone manner off the pitch and his fearless performances on it.
“Everyone still speaks well of him,” says Davies.
“They loved him. It’s no surprise. “He’s a good bloke who does the business on the pitch.
“I think he’d fit in anywhere. People just like him.”
The downside, of course, of leaving the regional scene is that Davies has seen his Test career halted. But he knew what he was doing when he penned the contract.
It’s something he’s had come to terms with, a price to be paid and all that.
“It was a hard decision, knowing that I was not going to be able to play for my country”, he explains.
“I still have individual ambitions and want to play at the highest level possible.
“I still want to play for Wales – don’t get me wrong.
“But I wanted to try something different.
“Going away develops your outlook and can make you a more rounded person and player.
“I still watch the Scarlets and Ospreys games on TV and look out for their results. I played for both and have great friends in those teams. Of course you want your old clubs to do well.
“But my priority now is to make as big a success of my time here as possible.
“I’m enjoying it and hopefully I’ll enjoy it even more when we start playing again.”
With his quick service and accurate box kicking, Davies is a player who offers a lot.
When the action restarts, Saracens will enjoy having him around.