Brive’s Welsh full-back Barry
Davies is so confident his countrymen will beat England on
Saturday that he has given club colleague – and former
England international – Ben Johnston a 15-point start in a
personal wager between the pair.
“It’s a bit gutsy, but
I thought I’d stick my neck out,” admitted the 27-year-old.
He thinks England will provide the Welsh with a sterner test
than Scotland when they meet at the Millennium Stadium, but
still has confidence in another victory for Warren Gatland’s
team.
“Obviously England are
no mugs. They didn’t have a great game against Italy but
they have not become a bad team overnight. I think they’re
going to give Wales a good test for 50 minutes but I think
Wales have got so many try-scorers at the moment in the
backs and the forwards are going so well – they scrummaged
awesome at the weekend - that I just can’t see how England
are going to win.
“They could kick all
their penalties but I just can’t see them scoring tries.
It’s going to be close but hopefully it will be a good
game,” he said.
Davies has been in
impressive form for Brive of late, since coming back from an
ankle injury, but knows that Gatland’s stated preference to
only pick players plying their trade in Wales is a serious
handicap to him winning more caps. Oh, and the form of Lee
Byrne.
But that doesn’t stop
him catching up with his old mates when he gets the chance,
as he did last week when Brive had a week off which allowed
him to return to his native Wales for a few days.
“I went back and spent
a bit of time with Mike Phillips and Stephen Jones and I
just think they’ve got a really good work ethic in the camp
at the moment, with their training and stuff,” said Davies.
“I think a lot of the
players play with each other in the regions and because they
have been together for so long now they just click in. And
they’ve got match-winners all over the park so they’ve got a
good balance, with Lee Byrne at 15, Shane Williams on the
wing and Jamie Roberts coming through as a young centre –
he’s awesome.
“They’ve also got
firepower on the bench with Dwayne Peel and James Hook when
they need them, so I think they’ve got really good strength
in depth at the moment.”
Davies is currently in his second season at Brive and says
he’s enjoying both the rugby and lifestyle in France.
Results on the pitch have begun to gather momentum and proof
that international selectors are keeping an eye on things
came with club colleague Andy Goode’s recall to the England
team.
Does that mean he still
harbours hopes of a return to Welsh colours?
“It’s difficult with
the policy that Warren Gatland’s got at the moment because
he’s said he’s not going to select players who are not
playing in Wales,” admitted Davies.
“But it’s the same as
anything – if you are playing well then they’ve got no
option but to look here, especially if the boys at home
aren’t doing the job. But at the moment they’ve got some
cracking youngsters and full-backs in Wales so I won’t hold
my breath for a call-up.
“I think I’ve got a big
job at Brive to try and make sure I’m the first choice here
and to help push them up the league to get them into Europe
and to try and get into the top four,” he said.
Heineken Cup
qualification would certainly raise his profile next season
and Davies is itching to get back on to the stage he
illuminated with a dazzling try for Llanelli Scarlets, his
former club, against Northampton Saints in 2004.
“That’s the main
competition in Europe so if you can get Brive into that sort
of competition and get that sort of exposure then obviously
the coaches and stuff have got no option but to take note of
what you’re doing,” said the straight talking full-back.
So, what are his plans
for Saturday then?
“I think I’ll get up
early, chill out and then sit down in front the TV and watch
the game,” he replied.
