By Graham Thomas
Jonathan Davies is aiming the make amends for the most painful absence of his career when he goes to Twickenham next week.
The Wales centre was missing with a knee injury when Gareth Davies’s try and Dan Biggar’s goal-kicking earned a 28-25 victory over England in the World Cup pool stages last September.
Five months on, ahead of next week’s Six Nations return visit, Davies admits: “It was difficult for me.
“You want to be involved in games like that, but you do pick up injuries in rugby and that is just part of the game.
“It was not ideal missing an achievement like that, though. But I have come to terms with it now and it was made easier by the boys getting the win there.”
Davies sat out the entire tournament, alongside Rhys Webb and Leigh Halfpenny. But unlike them he regained fitness and form so quickly at his club Clermont Auvergne that coach Warren Gatland had little hesitation in bringing him back to partner Jamie Roberts for this tournament.
Despite the drawn match against Ireland and victories over Scotland and France, the 27-year-old recognises the frustration that Wales’ attacking game still has some way to go.
“There is a lot more to come in that area. We created some chances but we were loose with some silly offloads but that will come.
“We are never as clinical as we want to be against France so we need to keep working on that. Our defence was excellent, we came through a six-minute period without conceding a point which is encouraging.
Rob Evans, Jonathan Davies, Gareth Davies and Jamie Roberts of Wales after the game.
“They did get a try late on, but by then the result was in the bag. But I think our level in that area is getting back to where it has been before. It is about using the ball effectively and being clinical when we have it offensively.
“The French did not contest that heavily at the breakdown, they were standing back and fanning out in the line and it meant there was not much space. There were times where our pick and go got us some go forward, but it was a bit of an arm wrestle, really. But, thankfully, we took our chances and got the win.”
Unlike the majority of the Wales squad, Davies is no longer in camp in Cardiff but has returned to France and will risk injury again on Friday night when he plays for Clermont away to Grenoble in the Top 14.
It will be different next season when he returns to the Scarlets, having agreed a dual contract with the region and the Welsh Rugby Union.
“I now have to go back with Clermont and then I will get back into the mix for the England game. I have got a suit in the wardrobe out in Clermont which is covered in the Welsh dragon so I might be wearing that a bit this week. I’ll have a nice smirk on my face.
“England have got the wins on the board, but we have got to back ourselves. We have got confidence in our own abilities and traditionally we get better as the tournament goes on.”