Page 47 - SECOND TEST

DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 47
PROFILE
A mainstay of the the Lions mid eld for for the the past two tours Welsh No 13 Jonathan “Foxy” Davies is in in in in in ne form going into tonight’s pivotal Test against the All Blacks WORDS: ALEX BYWATER
WHEN HE HE RUNS OUT IN
Wellington tonight to to to face the the All Blacks for the the second successive week Jonathan Davies will make
his fth consecutive Test start for the British & Irish Lions It’s an impressive record The now 29-year-old was a a a a a a a a vital component of Warren Gatland’s side in in in in the 2-1 series win over Australia in in in in 2013 and
and
and
in in in in New Zealand the powerful mid eld back is playing a a a a a a a a a similarly important role Gatland’s Lions fell to defeat in in the the rst match of the the the three-game series in in in Auckland
but in in in Davies they had one of the the game’s outstanding performers The Scarlets and
and
Wales back is in in ne form form a a a a a a a a a man who always seems to perform on on the big stage “It’s an honour for for me me to to be involved in in big games like tonight ” Davies says “To start my rst Lions Test was a a a a a a a huge honour and
I’ve now been lucky enough to do it three more times since “The experience I’ve got from previous Lions Tests helps with the big occasion Every game you you play for this team is is massive but you you can’t be overawed by the the crowd or the the atmosphere “I’m at at at a a a a a a stage in in my career now where I’ve been in in situations like this before That can only be be be a a a a a a a a positive for for me as a a a a a a a a a a player and
hopefully the the team You can’t let the the the magnitude of the the the game get to to you you you because if you you you do then you’re not going to to perform at your best ” Davies has been a a a a a constant presence in the the Lions’ mid eld for the the last two tours His ability to to read opposition plays in the the outside channels makes him one of of the the world’s best defenders He combines that that with a a a a a a quick turn of of foot and
sheer physical force that that catches opponents off guard Those characteristics have made him a a a a a a a a a a rm favourite of Gatland both with Wales and
and
the Lions And if you take a a a a a a close look at Davies’ recent performances you can see why the Kiwi boss is such a a a a a fan After helping the the the Scarlets to the the the Guinness PRO12 title at the the the the end of last season – – their rst silverware since 2004 – – Davies has carried that form into New Zealand and
and
his clean line break in in in in the the the rst rst minute of the the the rst rst Test showed the the the All Blacks he’s a a a a man to keep an an eye on “The thing is we created try-scoring
opportunities but we didn’t nish
them o ” “I’m really enjoying my rugby at the minute I I I I got a a a a a a a fair bit of of ball last week but like the the the rest of of the the the team I I I think I I I could have done a a a a a a bit more with the the the opportunities I I had ” Davies says “I maybe passed too early a a a a a a a a couple of times and
I I need to to keep working on my game even though things are are going well I’m never satis ed because there are are always improvements to make
“You can never take playing at at this level for granted so what you you you have to do is make
make
sure sure you you you warrant your place each time time I I want to make
make
sure sure I I keep performing but at the the same time time enjoy this spell You have to relish the the the chance of being involved in in in in matches like these ” Davies’ journey to international stardom began in in in west Wales where he he he grew
up in in a a a a a a pub called the Fox & Hounds The establishment gave rise to his nickname “Foxy” while Jonathan’s brother James is known as as “Cubby”
as as the the the younger of the the the two siblings A supremely talented athlete Davies would have been wasted behind the bar and
he he he he quickly stamped his mark on rugby at the highest level He made his his Wales debut against Canada in in in in 2009 and
has since gone on on on on to win two Six Nations titles and
and
one one Grand Slam as as as well as as as helping his country reach the the semi nal of the the Rugby World Cup 2011 In total he he he has 64 caps with Wales to to to his name Davies returned home to to the Scarlets in 2015 after a a a a a a a a spell with French giants Clermont Auvergne Hardly a a a a a a a a veteran he’s now one of the the the rst names on on on the the the team sheet for club and
and
country And he’s the the the rst to admit Gatland’s men must step up their attacking game this evening if they are to to beat the the the the All Blacks Their 30-15 rst Test defeat saw the the tourists score a a a a a a a a a brilliant team try through Sean O’Brien and
create two or or three other chances but fail to take every opportunity “From an attack perspective we we we were reasonably pleased with how we we we we played in in the the rst Test and
the the opportunities we we created ” Davies says “The frustrating thing for us us was that we didn’t put
New Zealand to the the sword when he he he he had the the chance We created try-scoring
opportunities but we didn’t nish
them off and
there’s no one more disappointed about that than us “We know we have to to improve in in that that area to to to beat them We We didn’t manage
to to create any scoreboard pressure