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'I had a missed call from Gats - he said 'can you jump on a plane tomorrow?''

Wales lock Bradley Davies

Bradley Davies was set to play a PRO14 game in Belfast last week before a missed call from Wales boss Warren Gatland drastically changed his plans.

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Davies is settling into life with Wales’ World Cup squad after flying to Japan as replacement for an injured Cory Hill at the Rugby World Cup.

Dragons lock Hill could not recover from a stress fracture in his leg, so 65 times-capped Ospreys forward Davies was summoned.

“I was pretty rushed last week, to be fair,” Davies said, at Wales’ lakeside base in Otsu.

“I was in Ospreys training preparing for the Ulster game. I had just finished in the gym, and I had a missed call from ‘Gats’. I guessed then – unless I had done something really bad!

“I called him back and he said ‘can you jump on a plane tomorrow?’ I went home, kissed my wife and kids goodbye and was straight in the car.”

Davies, 32, missed out on a place in Wales’ Word Cup squad, but he will offer considerable experience provided by a 10-year Test career.

“It was disappointing not to get picked at the start, but I think the way the summer went for me, I didn’t get a chance to put my best foot forward,” he added.

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“I didn’t train as much as the other boys, so I deserved not to be picked, to be honest with you.

“We’ve got some really good second-rows. But I know that second-row is a difficult position to play and something always happens, someone goes down. My mindset was to go back, keep fit and see how it goes.”

With Hill struggling and Adam Beard recovering from an appendix operation, Wales’ second-row resources in Japan have been tested.

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“There was talk that (former Wales internationals) Bob Norster and Derwyn Jones were coming out!” Davies joked.

“All the other boys will say I’m lying, but I think it (second-row) is one of the toughest positions on the field.

“It’s not very glamorous, and you have to put your head where it hurts a lot of the time. A lot of us are big heavy men as well.”

Davies’ renowned sense of humour has made him a popular member of Welsh squads down the years, and the World Cup promises to be no exception.

“I used to be on the joke of the day (committee) about 10 years ago, but I was kicked off that because I was too controversial,” he said.

“I’ve done fines in the past, but I’ve been kicked off that. I’m just a joker on the bus, really, and sometimes I have to stand up and juggle so the boys can have a laugh.

“I’ve been around the squad a long time, so I’ve got a place at the back of the bus just heckling people. That’s my role.

“The massive thing that I will probably miss after rugby is the camaraderie and coming to training every day.

“You could think you’ve got the best haircut in the world, but as soon as you walk through the door, the boys abuse you and you feel terrible! They are asking you when you are going back to have your haircut finished.

“It’s an unforgiving environment in that sense, but it’s great and the boys get on well. We have a great laugh.

“But it’s always underpinned by how hard we train on the field. Once we cross that white line, we train harder than anybody.”

Watch: Joseph in demand after Ireland win

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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