Having already scored three tries from five games on the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia it comes as no surprise that Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies has been named in the starting XV for the first Test against Australia this Saturday.
A Scarlets product, from Bancyfelin, Carmarthenshire, will take on the Qantas Wallabies on Saturday, 22nd June, alongside one of rugby’s greatest centres of all time – Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll.
With his Wales centre partner Jamie Roberts missing through injury Davies has been named at inside centre and earlier this week he said: “I don’t mind it, if that’s the case I’ll be more than happy to play 12 for the Lions. With the strength we’ve got, we’ve got to make sure we work hard and keep pushing ourselves
“There is confidence in the squad, we’ve got a good understanding of what we want to do and what we want to achieve, and we’ve just got to make sure we keep our eye on the prize now and keep building.”
The great O’Driscoll has also been vocal this week about how Davies’ performance against NSW Waratahs a week ago inspired him to perform, he said: “He was awesome. He was involved in everything that was good. You have to tip your hat to that. Jonathan was comfortably the best player on the night.
“The great thing is that it makes me, Manu and others in the same position realise that that is the level we need to be at. You have to embrace that and salute him.”
Rhys Priestland is equally full of praise declaring that he knew from a young age that his fellow Scarlet and Wales teammate and housemate was destined for great things.
“When we were younger, Jon was always talked about being a 50-cap Wales international and potential Lion. People were always talking about his potential and it is no surprise to me he has fulfilled that.
“Jonathan is also held in such a high regard by players and the management. Everybody respects him on the field because he is quite vocal and does demand the best out of his team-mates.”
Northampton-bound George North has also been named in the starting XV having come through a fitness test.
Watch the Lions’ first test at Parc y Scarlets. Heart & Soul Bar open from 9am with kick-off at 11.05am.
You can catch Jonathan Davies in action at heart and soul rugby country in 2013-14 with a Season Membership; adult prices from £129 and Junior Membership only £8!
British & Irish Lions (v Qantas Wallabies, June 22, Brisbane)
15. Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues/Wales), 14. Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues/Wales), 13. Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster/Ireland), 12. Jonathan Davies (Scarlets/Wales), 11. George North (Scarlets/Wales),
10. Jonathan Sexton (Leinster/Ireland), 9. Mike Phillips (Bayonne/Wales), 1. Alex Corbisiero (London Irish/England), 2. Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers/England), 3. Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales), 4. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales), 5. Paul O’Connell (Munster/Ireland), 6. Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers/England), 7. Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues/Wales, capt), 8. Jamie Heaslip (Leinster/Ireland)
Replacements: 16. Richard Hibbard (Ospreys/Wales), 17. Makovina Vunipola (Saracens/England), 18. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers/England), 19. Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers/England), 20. Dan Lydiate (Dragons/Wales), 21. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers/England), 22. Owen Farrell (Saracens/England), 23. Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
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