Six Nations 2016 - England vs Wales: Gareth Davies hopes to shock Twickenham once again
Wales take on England on Saturday
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Your support makes all the difference.One of Gareth Davies’ last touches of the ball on his last visit to Twickenham was comfortably the most telling of his burgeoning international career.
After fellow scrum-half Lloyd Williams, a makeshift wing with Wales’ walking wounded, unleashed a crossfield kick, Davies was the grateful recipient for the turning point in Wales flipping a 10-point deficit to defeat England 28-25 and set the hosts on their slow march out of last year’s World Cup.
It proved the most unlikely of victories, with Wales, who had struggled to muster 15 sufficiently fit players, managing to see out the game.
“It was obviously a great moment for myself and for Wales as a nation,” said Davies, who returns to the scene of that triumph on Saturday. “I think Warren Gatland [the Wales coach] said himself that it was one of the biggest victories in Welsh rugby history, so it was great to be a part of that.”
Another victory for Wales would improve Gatland’s already impressive history in charge of the national set-up and, with only Italy lying in wait on the final weekend, it would also surely seal the Six Nations title.
For the scorer of Wales’ sole try at Twickenham last September – he grabbed five throughout the tournament – Davies is adamant life has not really changed that much, although that moment is one he readily replays.
“It was about 60 minutes in and we were behind on the scoreboard,” said the 25-year-old. “I remember thinking that we were in a better place than they were.
“A lot of their forwards were blowing and a few of them were on the floor, struggling a bit, so I had a word with our forwards and said it was a big opportunity for us if we could pick it up a gear or two.
“To be fair to them they did and we managed to get that try and obviously Dan Biggar’s penalty at the end to win it. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time and just about managed to pick the ball up to slide under the sticks.”
Man of the match in the victory over France 13 days ago, Davies now plays with the pressure of Rhys Webb, Wales’ first-choice scrum-half before injury ruled him out of the reckoning, back in the match-day squad and breathing down his neck. The incumbent is not concerned though and said: “It is a bit of extra pressure for me but I enjoy it.
“We’ve had a couple of good performances at Twickenham in the World Cup so it is not a place we are scared to go. We are looking forward to it.”
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