Seb Davies admits he has no role models as a No.8, but would be happy to base his game on Taulupe Faletau – the player Warren Gatland hopes he will one day challenge.
Davies makes his first home Test appearance for Wales against Georgia on Saturday, but not in the role Cardiff Blues fans have seen him catch the eye as a ball-handling second row this season.
Instead, the 21-year-old – who won his first two caps on tour against Tonga and Samoa this summer – will pack down at No.8.
It is the position where Gatland sees a shortage of realistic alternatives to Faletau, with Ross Moriarty, who is more comfortable at blindside flanker, currently injured and the Ospreys’ Dan Baker having retreated due to injuries and loss of form.
Davies has never played a senior game of rugby in this pivotal position and when asked if he bases his game on anyone currently occupying the role, the former Pontypridd forward scratches his head.
“Not really,” he says. “I had no great role models who were No.8s, but Toby (Faletau) would be a great player to emulate. He’s great with and without the ball and the support lines he runs are fantastic.
“I like to think I could be in that mould. I’ve got good skills and I’m pretty fast around the field.
“It’s another string to the bow, so I’ll see where it takes me.”
Faletau seems to have been around for years, but is still only 27, even though he has been on two Lions tours and played in two World Cups.
The rested Bath forward was actually a year younger than Davies when he made his Test debut as a 20-year-old, but there was the same debate over where his best position might be as Faletau was equally capable at openside.
You have to go back to the previous Wales No.8, former captain Ryan Jones, for the last No.8 who also doubled up as a second row.
Davies gives the impression he would rather play in the back row than in the boiler house, where the Blues have kept him – not least because he is keen to get hold of the ball more often.
“I like to think I have got good ball-handling skills and I get around the field well so this is a good opportunity.
“This is a chance to get my hands on the ball a little bit more. I’ve been working in training with the nines on the new role – where to go at scrums and that kind of thing.
“In the second row it’s more about hitting rucks and mauls than getting your hands on the ball. In the scrums, I just get my head down and push in the second row, so I’ll listen to the 9s when we’re on the ball.
“I like to think I can play anywhere in the back row – maybe not 7 – but certainly at 8 and 6.”
Davies’s last experience of No.8 came for Wales U20s two seasons ago against Japan. The only thing he remembers in much detail is the result. Wales won.
“This will be my first senior start there. But I’ve played at No.6 for the Blues and it’s just another number on my back. When I was told, I jumped at the chance.
“I can play more with the ball, so if there’s a chance to play there I’ll take it.”
The Cardiff-born player may see more of the ball than he would normally, but if the Georgians get on top in the scrums then it could be the kind of ball that bobbles around his dancing feet and ankles and he tries to move backwards.
To prevent that, Davies will rely on a front five he says are determined to drain Georgian power
“The bulk of their squad plays in France, so they have that French mentality of a liking for big scrums and line-out. So, it’s a big challenge for us. We’ve been working hard, especially on our maul defence.
“Their backs can play a bit, but so long as we take their set-piece game away, we should be good to go.
“Their driving line-out is very low and direct. It might not be the best technically, but they’ve got a lot of heart and they really go for it.”
