Wales can’t lose Davies

WITH Sam Davies playing a pivotal role in the Ospreys’ resurgence this season, I was disappointed he wasn’t in the autumn internationals squad for Wales.

Against Edinburgh he managed the game well, was impressive against Cheetahs, man of the match against Benetton and played well against the Scarlets.

In the second half, the Ospreys weren’t awarded a penalty and needed to establish field position. That he did, and but for the bounce of the ball may have secured victory had his cross-kick bounced favourably for Luke Morgan. With many predicting defeat, Friday’s win against Connacht was impressive; Cracknell, Lydiate, Allen and Giles were rightly praised, but little was made of the performance from Davies that was key to the victory.

His game management was excellent. The accuracy and range of his passing as well as his decisionmaking was assured. He chased, charged down his kick, setting up Giles’s first try, his chip to the corner forced the scrum from which his well-executed cross-kick created Giles’s second score.

His kicking helped the Ospreys win field position, but most impressive was his regaining possession by chasing high kicks. Balls coming over your shoulder are toughest to catch; doing it whilst running towards players coming forward requires skill and bravery. Davies caught two Ospreys high kicks and palmed back two others, enabling them, despite again not receiving a second-half penalty, to establish field position.

Key to the fly-half’s role is game management. Davies’s ability to do that is something Wales will need in the future. With his contract ending, I’m sure teams in both England and France are preparing to make him an offer he can’t refuse.

I hope the Welsh management make him feel he is in their plans – if not, Wales may lose a player voted the world’s best junior player in 2013.

DEAN MASON

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