Lewis glad to learn from the old master at Blues
HE MIGHT be a Wales international and old beyond his years, but Cardiff Blues prop Dillon Lewis is more than happy to sit at the feet of the masters and soak up their experience.
The rugby world seems to be Lewis’ oyster if he continues with the form he showed for the Blues in their European Challenge Cup quarter-final win in Edinburgh.
It was a rare start for the 22-year-old and the 60 minutes he played were the most in any of his 13 appearances this season.
But you won’t find any complaints from Lewis, who first played for Wales U16 as a 14-year-old and is learning from the best in Gethin Jenkins and Alun Wyn Jones this season.
“They say it takes a while for a front row forward to mature and, hopefully, my time will come,” said tighthead specialist Lewis.
“Rugby as a whole is a frustrating game and you have to take that as it comes, but it is a massive learning curve for players in the front row.
“You have to be like a sponge and take in as much as you can from the senior players around you. The most influential one for me is Gethin because he sets incredibly high standards.
“If someone is walking, or goes into the breakdown too high in training or in a game, you will know about it. What he strives for is something we can all look to.
“I used to chase Gethin for autographs when I was a youngster watching him play for Pontypridd and he has been massive for me coming through. He has got so much to give and the knowledge he has got to pass on to us is priceless. It’s something we can’t get from anyone else.”
Lewis was capped against Tonga and Samoa last summer and moving in the same international circles as lock icon Jones has also had its benefits.
“It was a bit surreal being in camp with Alun Wyn. He is very much like Gethin in the kind of standards he drives,” admitted Lewis. “You really have to take it on board and it was a massive experience for me during the Six Nations. As a 22-year old it does open up your eyes to the standards they set in training.”