For Owen Williams, the pursuit of the Welsh jersey has often felt like a series of sliding door moments that have never quite fallen his way.
Two promising appearances at No. 12 against Australia and New Zealand in 2017 were quickly forgotten about once Hadleigh Parkes took over the jersey, with injuries and moves to anywhere but Wales hardly helping.
Leaving the Scarlets at an early stage of his career, plying his trade for Leicester did little to help his Test cause. Neither did further ventures to Gloucester, Japanese outfit Red Hurricanes or Worcester Warriors.
There would be the odd flicker of hope that would materialise to nothing. A bench spot in 2020 against Ireland was snatched away from him through injury. There would be committed talk of wanting to pull on the red jersey again, but the chances seemed remote while Williams was still away from his homeland.
And then, another sliding doors moment. In the space of six short months, the unthinkable happened.
In the blink of an eye, Williams was without a job after the demise of Worcester Warriors. Thankfully for him, the Ospreys came calling for injury cover.
Thrown into the deep end, he guided them to a victory over French champions Montpellier on his debut, before masterminding a repeat triumph in the return fixture and then a win over former club Leicester to help the Ospreys qualify for the Champions Cup knockout stages.
Warren Gatland took notice, calling him up to his Six Nations side. He came off the bench in the opening defeat to Ireland, wasn't involved at all against Scotland, but was handed the starting jersey against England in round three. In the following round in Rome, he had his first victory in a Welsh jersey since that brief debut against Tonga six years ago.
All the while, he also welcomed his first child with partner Hannah. Of all the ways Williams might have predicted things would turn out, wearing the Welsh 10 jersey would likely not have been top of his list half a year ago.
"Honestly the last six months has been a rollercoaster," he said. "There’s a lot gone on in my personal life as well.
"I’ve had a baby, my first one, and with what happened at Worcester and getting injured, I was rehabbing on my own with the help of some of the Worcester S&Cs and physios.
"Then the Ospreys threw me a lifeline. They gave me an opportunity and it went well for a couple of months which gave me a shop window. I’m really grateful for that opportunity. As cliché as it sounds it’s just week to week at the moment. I’m just enjoying it at the moment. I’m just happy I’ve got a job."
Granted, Williams has been parachuted into Welsh rugby at a time of great unrest on every level. But the 31-year-old will surely only see the opportunities rather than the pitfalls.
Having navigated uncertainty across the border, he is now in with a shot of a place at this year's World Cup in France. And, frankly, seeing his employers go to the wall while he had his family to worry about has only served to encourage Williams to focus on the good right now.
"You probably sometimes take things a little bit for granted," he admitted. "It probably gave me a kick up the backside. There are still lots of good players who were at that team who don’t have jobs now so it just makes me really grateful.
"With what happened, we could never have foreseen it. We had a little one on the way as well so there were about three months when it was really stressful. We managed to get through it and we’ve got a healthy baby boy and I’ve got a job so that’s the main thing."
Victory over Italy, given the circumstances of the last six months, was a fitting reward for Williams. Next up will be the challenge of France.
"They’re a very good team," he said. "They’ve got everything to play for and we’ve got nothing to lose. We’ll look forward to that challenge. Hopefully we’ll have a good training week in Nice and then we’ll throw everything at it."
Thankfully, Williams already has some form for upsetting the French in their backyard this season. And, after the last six months, you just wouldn't rule out Williams doing it.
READ NEXT:
The Wales changes Warren Gatland is likely to make for France finale and the players under threat
Warren Gatland Q&A: The players that pleased me and what we still have to work on
Wales finally win a Six Nations match as old face returns to make difference
Six Nations UK media reaction as Rhys Webb 'galvanises' Wales and Sir Clive has nightmare
Wales have gifted backs capable of scaring sides yet lag streets behind the rest
