Llanelli back in the spotlight 28 years after humbling of Australia

The former lock won two Five Nations and a Triple Crown during a Wales career that incorporated 46 Tests between 1985 and 1995.

He lives just five miles from Llanelli, where his country renew their rivalry with England in the Autumn Nations Cup today.

That said, there is no chance, of course, of the 57-year-old popping along to see the contest unfold.

Instead, Davies will watch on television and hope Wales, in an obvious state of transition since Wayne Pivac took over from fellow New Zealander Warren Gatland 12 months ago, can spring a surprise.

“It’s a Herculean challenge for Wales for where they are at the moment in their evolution,” he told The Yorkshire Post, Wales having beaten Georgia 18-0 last Saturday just a week after being outplayed by Ireland.

“Both teams are in totally different positions; England are continuing to grow since last year’s World Cup final and developing their game.

“They have a lot of settled combinations and a settled way of playing. Their physicality and speed, particularly in defence, is quite frightening; they make good teams look ordinary.

“They are a phenomenal side. Wales are trying to establish a new way of playing. We have a few injuries but a lot of young talent. It will be a massive challenge; the intensity will be twice as hard as against Georgia.

“It’d be an unbelievable result if we can beat England given the current state of affairs of both teams.

“I can’t see how we can get within 10 to 15 points of them.”

Davies will be hoping they can invoke some of the famous Llanelli magic of years gone by.

He was part of the famed Llanelli side that defeated world champions Australia – David Campese, Tim Horan, Michael Lynagh, Nick Farr-Jones et al – 13-9 in 1992. The town, sitting barely 10 miles north-west of Swansea, has enjoyed its fair share of remarkable rugby feats given its club also brought the All Blacks to its knees 20 years before that Wallabies success.

Both those famous acts occurred at their historic and atmospheric home of Stradey Park but that was demolished in 2010 after Llanelli Scarlets moved into the new purpose-built 15,000 Parc y Scarlets.

That is where England head today: it is pointless opening the 73,000-capacity Principality Stadium in Cardiff when no fans are in attendance.

Recalling that iconic afternoon in 1992 when Wales winger Ieuan Evans scored a stunning try – ironically copied off Wallabies fly-half Mark Ella – Davies said: “We’d 14 internationals in our own team that day.

“We had some good physical attributes but we were also very disciplined. We were able to stay within the game plan and stay within that remit.

“Tactically and technically we were a very good side. The plan was set out by Gareth Jenkins and the passion and enthusiasm by him and Allan Lewis was great. Gareth had an unbelievable ability to motivate and enthuse people about playing for each other but also the responsibility we had as players for the town and playing for Llanelli. It’s not the biggest town in the world but the rugby history and heritage we have here is fantastic.

“That’s what that day was all about; the passion and enthusiasm, the accountability of representing the town but also down to a very good game plan that Gareth set out and the players played out.

“As for that try, they were practicing it on the Thursday night. And they (Evans and scrum-half Rupert Moon) were also practicing that bloody chest pump celebration they did afterwards as well which, as an old grumpy forward, I thought ‘Oh my God!’

“Anyway, it was part and parcel of the occasion. It was wonderful. Just brilliant.

“Stradey was 100 years old and there was some amazing games against tourist teams, and Wales played Argentina there in the 1999 World Cup, too.

“But this is another opportunity for Parc-y-Scarlets to build its own history.”

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