“Where has he been until now?”
So went one verdict on Cai Evans after his display for the Ospreys against Montpellier in the Heineken Champions Cup match in Swansea on Saturday. “He’s like a completely different player.”
It was a reasonable conclusion to draw. Evans has long been seen as steady rather than startling. But over the past two matches, it's as if he's been reprogrammed.
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Playing at full-back against Montpellier at the weekend, he defused any number of bombs which rained down on him, soaring high in the sky and taking several clean catches. His kicking out of hand was superb and so was his work in front of the sticks. If he isn’t going to be mistaken for Serge Blanco any time soon — who is? — he made 50 metres from seven runs and showed a refreshing willingness to have a go.
There was also barely one false step against Leinster the previous weekend. All of which would have delighted dad Ieuan, he of Llanelli, Bath, Wales and British and Irish Lions fame as a player.
Certainly, Evans junior’s purple patch has pleased Ospreys head coach Toby Booth.
“Cai’s been brilliant,” said Booth. “He’s grabbed his opportunity. It’s been a difficult journey for him with injuries and bits and pieces but also opportunity. I’ve talked about grabbing his opportunity and he’s really thriving. I’m really pleased for him and his family because he’s fulfilling his potential.”
Evans has been playing for Swansea RFC in the Welsh Premiership, with his Ospreys starts rationed out. The former Wales U20s fly-half didn’t begin one match at regional level last term, with injuries not helping his cause, but he has always had a siege-gun boot and a nerveless disposition.
On Saturday evening, the 23-year-old was just the man to punish French indiscipline as he banged over three penalties to help give the Swansea.com Stadium team a quickfire double over their opponents, with a hat-trick of conversions bisecting the posts as well.
“It was a hell of a game to be a part of,” he said afterwards. “We knew they’d come flying out of the blocks after the result we had against them down in Montpellier. But we stuck to it and we found a way.
“Neither team could get a substantial lead, so it went down to the wire. We’re just pleased we were on the right end of it. The boys deserve it. There’s hell of a lot of guts in our team and we play for each other.”
The product of Cowbridge Comprehensive School and Cowbridge RFC is not the type to get ahead of himself, recognising the challenge of holding his place at the Ospreys. “I have to just keep knocking on the door,” he said. “As soon as a chance comes my way, I have to show my worth and just leave it all out on the field.”
He has done that over the past fortnight. It’s been good to see.
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