Oh no, the dog ate my lucky pants!
SAYS SCARLETS’ JAMES DAVIES
JAMES DAVIES has told a few shaggy dog stories in his career but hours before today’s European Champions Cup clash against La Rochelle his own mutt made sure that this time the joke was on the Wales flanker. Davies arrives to speak to
Sportsmail with Desmond, his four-month-old blue merle collie.
Desmond has just returned from a night at the vet’s — not that you would know it. Just like his owner — so adept at nicking the ball at the breakdown — Desmond has been scavenging.
‘He ate three onions!’ says a slightly exasperated Davies. ‘He stole them from my shopping. The toxins are really bad for dogs, so the vet kept him in all night.
‘When I picked him up he looked a bit out of it — he was spewing all night — but soon perked up. He’s not lost his appetite!’
‘I used to have lucky pants but not any more,’ adds Davies. ‘I can’t find them anywhere — Des must be eating them!’
This less than typical preparation for a big European night might fluster others but 27-yearold Davies is one of rugby’s most chilled-out players.
Full of beans, on and off the field, the maverick talent made his Wales debut in the Six Nations against Italy.
Davies has his nickname ‘Cubby Boi’ tattooed on his knuckles after a drunken £1,000 bet with former team-mate Rhys Priestland in Las Vegas two and a half years ago.
Priestland dared him to have the name inked on to his hands and Davies accepted the challenge.
‘He still hasn’t paid me!’ he protests. ‘Not even taken me out for dinner or anything — shocking.’
The Scarlets, the first Welsh quarter-finalists for six years, are a true band of brothers who model their swashbuckling style on the All Blacks.
‘It’s a bit old-school, but when we drink together everyone loosens up,’ says Davies. ‘One big session, everyone gets loose and by the Monday you’re all mates.
‘It is just one very small part of how our coach Wayne Pivac makes it work.’
If the Kiwi coach and his team are after a knockout blow tonight, maybe they could seek advice from a famous spectator at Parc y Scarlets.
‘I heard a rumour that Sugar Ray Leonard is coming,’ says Davies with a grin. ‘It will be good to get him in the changing-room hot-tub if we win.
‘It is a massive weekend in Wales with us tonight and then the Anthony Joshua fight in Cardiff.
‘John Barclay (Scarlets flanker) has sorted for a few of us to go. Monday morning could be quite tough in Wales if the Scarlets and Joshua win!’
Tonight’s game, which sold out in 45 minutes, is pivotal for Welsh rugby.
‘This is the biggest game the club has had in years,’ says Davies. ‘We are flying the flag for Wales. Everyone has the belief that we can win.’
The Scarlets will hope their mad dog Davies has his day. WASPS flanker Sam Jones was yesterday given the news he had been dreading — that he must retire from rugby. Despite several operations Jones, 26, who injured his right leg during a judo training session with England 17 months ago, has had to quit. Grappling with Maro Itoje, he dislocated his ankle, broke his calf bone, damaged ankle ligaments and cartilage, and ruptured the medial ligament. ‘The injury was complicated and rehab wasn’t progressing, with multiple set-backs,’ said Jones, who never won a full England cap. ‘It’s tough but it’s in my best interests.’