Fit-again British & Irish Lion Jonathan Davies hopes an intensive training regime has whipped him into shape in time for the ultimate test in the All Blacks on Saturday.
Davies was one of the key cogs as the Lions emerged victorious from Australia last year – and now turns his attentions to world champions New Zealand who will host the tourists in 2017.
Since that summer of 2013 the centre has endured a torrid time with injuries, tearing a pectoral muscle last autumn and most recently picking up a shoulder injury that has sidelined him for a month.
But Warren Gatland has chosen to restore Davies to Wales’ starting XV against the All Blacks – after missing the previous Tests against Australia and Fiji – and the 26-year-old insists he’s in good enough condition to make an impact this weekend.
"You work extremely hard here if you are injured," he said.
"You don't want to get injured when you are in the Wales camp because you probably get flogged more than the fit boys
“You want to put yourself up against the best and that’s what is going to happen on Saturday. Ideally I would have had a bit more game time but that’s how the world goes.
“Obviously, it's going to be very tough, but if we can get a performance for the full 80 minutes and not lose concentration, we are confident we can get a result.
"They (New Zealand) have put England away and after making 13 changes still had the strength in depth to beat Scotland. They're the best team in the world, very comfortable on the ball and very intelligent.”
