VIEW FROM THE PRESS BOX: SIMON THOMAS

ARISE the unsung heroes, stand up and take a bow. Much of the talk going into this Six Nations opener had been about the injured Welsh stars, the seven missing Lions.

But, in their absence, this was the moment for less celebrated, unheralded figures to take centre stage.

On a quite extraordinary start to the Championship, it was the regional stalwarts who rose to the occasion and stepped into the spotlight.

Men like Aaron Shingler, Josh Navidi, Cory Hill and Rhys Patchell have been plying their trade diligently year in, year out on the domestic front.

Some have had to bide their time and wait their chance, amid questions over whether they could do it on the big stage.

Well, now the chance has come and they have answered those questions in emphatic fashion.

This was the day of Shingler’s Shift, as the former Glamorgan cricketer delivered the performance of his life to rightly earn the Man of the Match award.

He made ten carries and nine tackles and was just into everything, transferring the form he has shown for the Scarlets over the past 18 months into the Test arena.

Shingler spent three years in the international wilderness, while his fellow flanker Navidi dwelled there for four.

But both are now very much firmly on board, with Navidi carrying on where he left off in the autumn, winning two crucial breakdown penalties under his own posts, while his 17 tackles were at the heart of an immense Welsh defensive display.

As for Cory Hill, he’s hardly been a household name, with Brian O’Driscoll famously saying he didn’t know who he was when the Dragons lock was called up to the Lions tour last summer.

There was also some surprise when Hill was picked ahead of the rejuvenated Bradley Davies to face the Scots, but he fully justified his selection with his best display in a red jersey.

He fits into the template of what Wales are looking for from their front five forwards as he’s comfortable with the ball in hand and lets it do the work. He’s a heads-up rugby player, while he’s also a real grafter.

Then there’s Patchell. As Six Nations debuts go, it wasn’t too shabby. There was a big responsibility on him as he donned the No 10 jersey in the absence of the crocked Dan Biggar