Bradley Davies has admitted Wales were given “a right kicking” by the All Blacks this summer – but insists his teammates are ready to respond.
Davies, who left the tour early because of a knee injury, has been declared fit for the start of the season which kicks off on September 2.
It will feature a change of league as well as club for the 29-year-old second row, who left Wasps and the Aviva Premiership at the end of last season to return to the Guinness Pro12 with the Ospreys.
The autumn Tests will be a target for Davies who believes Wales can recover quickly from their 3-0 Test whitewash in New Zealand.
“It’s easy for us to say we were tired but then you look at how well England did and they had a difficult season as well, but I don’t think we were that far off it,” he said.
“If we had won the first Test, I think that would have changed the whole dynamic of the tour. It would have probably given us that extra 10-15 percent but I think it was a bit demoralising, the way we let them win in the after being so close and leading the game.
“We tried to pick ourselves up for the second Test, we started well but again, a couple of lapses in concentration.
“Then, in the third Test they gave us a right kicking really didn’t they?
“But we’ve had time to rest and regroup and I know all the boys in this camp are refreshed and ready to go.”
Davies could be fit for the Ospreys’ first match of the campaign – at home to Zebre – and insists the problem that ended his tour was not a serious one.
After plying his trade in England for two seasons, he chose to join the Ospreys rather than return to his old employers at the Cardiff Blues.
It means the region could field a hugely experienced pack this campaign, with 56-cap Davies joining Alun Wyn Jones in the second row.
“We’ve got four or five good second rows, we can rest and rotate and obviously push each other, make each other improve.
“You’ve obviously got Alun (Wyn Jones), Adam Beard, Lloyd Ashley, Rory Thornton – some great youngsters coming through.
“It will be good for us as a unit, pushing each other in training, and when one man’s playing and the other one is not, we can push each other along.
“Personally, I just want to stay on the field and enjoy rugby and enjoy being back home again.
“I can’t wait to play the derbies, the things I missed when I was away, and obviously just keep on improving and getting better as a rugby player.
“I think I can do that here with Steve Tandy and, as a squad, I think we just want to get a good start under our belts.
“The squad we’ve got now, we feel like we can compete with anybody.
“I think last year the start let us down a bit but this year if we get a good start, we can get the ball rolling and a bit of momentum and I think we’ll be alright.”
