Rhys Webb is sitting by the window in Sarn services near Bridgend when we catch up for a coffee.
He has always enjoyed dealing with the press but in recent years he has shied away from giving one-to-one interviews.
Webb was guarded against the inevitable questions surrounding his Wales career given former head coach Wayne Pivac's refusal to select him even though his form more than merited a place in the squad.
But on Monday there was only one place to start with Webb grinning like a Cheshire cat 48 hours after the Ospreys' remarkable victory over French champions Montpellier in their own backyard, arguably their greatest ever European result.
"We put a hell of a shift in," he says. "We are a really tight group and we worked really hard for the full 80 minutes so we must continue to do that .
"Most people wrote us off because of our recent results and everything going on with the regions at the moment but we weren’t letting that be a distraction
"We were really disappointed with the result against Leicester, especially with it being at home, and we knew we could do a lot better.
"To win the way we did out in France against the winners of the Top 14 with our backs against the wall is one of the best results I've ever had as a player.
"It reminded me of when I first started playing for the Ospreys and we had great players like James Hook, Tommy Bowe, Shane Williams, Lee Byrne, Filo Tiatia, Marty Holah, Adam Jones, and Jerry Collins.
"We used to win big games against strong sides back then and I think we've got a really good squad now that will get better.
"I love playing for the Ospreys and I'm enjoying my rugby more than I have for years. I'm hoping things can get even better for me and the team this season."
The lively scrum-half has been outstanding for the Ospreys in recent weeks with his game management and the threat he poses with ball in hand proving difficult for opposition defences to deal with.
Webb has not represented Wales since facing England in November 2020 with his omission during the Pivac era a real head scratcher given his consistently good form at regional level for the Ospreys.
But with Pivac getting the sack as a result of an extremely poor 2020 former coach Warren Gatland is back in situ, and will take Wales to his fourth World Cup.
With Gatland's squad for the Six Nations likely to be announced in a matter of weeks, now feels the right time to broach the subject of a Wales recall.
"Oh mate, I should have known this question was coming," says Webb half jokingly.
"My focus is on the Ospreys and trying to keep up the good performances and helping more results come our way so that is my priority and what ever happens happens, I will continually work hard and keep myself in top top condition."
He pauses for a minute then continues. "I suppose there is unfinished business," he says.
"Like any player I want to play for my country. It was a big driver in me coming back to the Ospreys but for one reason or another it didn't work out for me under Wayne but I have huge fire in my belly to represent my country and play on the biggest stage.
"But as I've said - you can only control the controllables and everything else will take care of itself."
When Webb looks back at his exile from the Wales squad he admits it was a difficult one to take but is full of praise for the way the Ospreys helped him stay focused.
"It was a tough time but that's in the past and I loved playing for the Ospreys," he says.
"There's loads of quality scrum-halves in Wales. Both Tomos and Kieran have done really well of late so fair play to them .
"Yes deep deep down I want to represent my country again but it's totally out of my hands. I've just got to keep enjoying my rugby which I am and what will be will be .
"I'm more mature now than I was in the past and I know not to dwell too much on things. All I can do is play well for the Ospreys and like I said what will be will be.
"Obviously I haven't been part of recent Wales squads although I am close to most of the players. I definitely think Wales can turn things around under Warren, there's no doubt in my mind."
At the age of 34 people could be forgiven for assuming Webb's international days are behind him but he doesn't see it that way. But his performances for the Ospreys this season have been good enough to attract interest from English, French, and Japanese clubs.
Indeed following the Ospreys' narrow defeat to Leicester, new England head coach singled Webb out as one of the best players on the field.
Webb himself insists he is in the best condition of his career and would be more than capable of playing test rugby if the call ever came again.
"If you speak to the guys down at the Ospreys they’ll tell you I’m in a good physical condition," said Webb. "I feel fit , fast, strong I've been playing well week-in-week out
"I look around the international circuit and there are a lot of scrum-halves well into their 30s still going strong. There's boys like Ben Youngs and Aaron Smith , Connor Murray who are all still playing international level and are all in a similar age bracket to me.
"I also look at the football scene at guys like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo who are still phenomenal players in their mid 30s, and still lighting up the biggest competition in the world .
"I'm really big on the recovery side of things, and rarely miss a training session."
There is not much Webb hasn't experienced since becoming a professional rugby players some 14 years ago.
The man from Bridgend has won 38 caps for Wales and a further two for the British & Irish Lions on their tour of New Zealand in 2017, while he has also played for French giants Toulon in the Top 14 along with a very short stint at Bath.
One thing which is missing from his CV is a World Cup appearance with injury having cruelly robbed him in 2015 while he fell foul to the Welsh Rugby Union's controversial 60-cap law in 2019.
Is playing in next year's World Cup a motivating factor for Webb?
"It would be nice to play in a World Cup but as I said I don’t control that . All I can control is myself. How I prepare every day , my performances and I just want to play well for the Ospreys. We have a great squad here at the moment and with everything happening with Welsh rugby we don’t know if this squad will be the same next season . So we enjoy working hard for each other and we enjoy each other's company .
"There's a lot of water to pass under the bridge before then. I know our team performances are going to get better at the Ospreys and this Montpellier victory will kick start that."
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