If Jonathan Davies was the break-out star of the 2013 British & Lions tour then his performance against the NSW Waratahs was undoubtedly his coming-out party.
In the 47-17 demolition job the Scarlets centre was a key figure in everything that the Lions did well, either scoring or creating all five of the tourists’ tries.
Renewing his Wales centre partnership with Jamie Roberts, that worked to such devastating effect in the decisive third Test, it was the first indication on the tour that the Lions were starting to click.
A sweet sidestep and inside pass from the 25-year-old released Jonathan Sexton for the opening try of the match.
After the interval Davies provided the final pass for both of compatriot Leigh Halfpenny’s tries and that in itself would have been enough for the man of the match award.
But the Welshman was not finished there and his perfectly judged interception released Tom Croft for the fourth try before he deservedly rounded things off with a score of his own, cantering over after a fine break by Ben Youngs.
Overall Davies carried the ball 14 times, making 115 metres and breaking the line on three occasions and after the game Warren Gatland hailed his performance as the best he had seen in his time with Wales or the Lions.
But the centre himself was characteristically understated: “There was a lot of pressure on the boys tonight to perform and I think we did that,” he said.
“I was pretty pleased with how I performed, I think I probably had a couple of better games in the Under 9s though!
“I had time on the ball and I just to make sure that I used it well, we had to try and use it efficiently.”
Indeed after the victorious tour in which Davies started all three tests, the first two at inside centre and the final one at 13, insisted that the credit must go to the forwards who laid the foundation for their historic victory.
"It's an incredible feeling right now," said Davies.
"All the effort we've put in as a squad over the past eight weeks and it's come down to that and it's something special I'll never forget."
“I think all tour the forwards have been superb. They've shown dominance in every game and [in Sydney] it was the same again. It's great to play behind all that, so credit to them.
“Behind [the scrum] we had chances and we took them.”
