Young bucks helping Evans chase down Shane’s mark
THE next generation of young Ospreys talent is driving Dan Evans on further as he closes in on Shane Williams’ try-scoring record for the region.
Wales wing great Williams scored 57 tries for the Ospreys in a glittering career, but Evans is now just seven short of his mark despite a nightmare year of injury and suspension.
The 32-year-old doesn’t get many headlines, but has been a vital figure at the Liberty Stadium since 2014.
Evans is not looking at records after suffering a serious elbow injury in January which came just weeks after a four-week ban for a red card against Racing 92.
Since then he has been hindered further by a series of other niggles and lockdown, but he is now enjoying playing in a young Ospreys back-line which includes promising talents Mat Protheroe, below, Kieran Williams, and Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler.
“It’s not something I set out to do it’s just about playing well for the Ospreys,” said Evans when asked about the Ospreys’ try-scoring record.
“There has definitely been some progression here. It’s an exciting back-line to be involved in. There are a fair few youngsters showing they are capable of stepping up so it’s keeping me on my toes.
“Mat has gone very well. He’s lightning quick and if I keep up with him, I know I can steal a couple of tries off his shoulder because of some of the breaks he makes.
“Kieran is catching the eye as well while Tiaan is stepping up when needed.”
One of the more surprising signings last summer was the acquisition of Premiership veteran Stephen Myler to fill the fly-half void left by injured Wales playmaker Gareth Anscombe.
Despite Myler being 36, Evans insists he has been a shrewd acquisition and is the perfect mentor for the likes of Protheroe, Williams and Thomas-Wheeler.
He said: “Stephen’s come in and steered the way for us which perhaps we lacked last year. All credit to him and he’s helping the youngsters coming through.
“The experience he’s picked up over his career has been invaluable to us and he’s putting us in the right positions and stopping us from getting too far ahead of ourselves.
“We’ve got a young centre partnership with young nines coming through. It will be great if they can gain some of his knowledge.”
Evans has been one of the most consistent performers in the PRO14 for a number of years but has constantly been overlooked by the Wales management.
He said: “Having been out for 12 months with an elbow injury and then the Covid19 situation I just want to be playing to the best of my ability. I want to contribute to this team week in, week out.
“It’s about keeping as fit as I can be and performing as well as I can. I just love playing rugby and all I want to do is play games with a smile on my face.”