Rhys Patchell admits he’s endured”a difficult year” ahead of his return to the Wales Test team against Ireland on Saturday.
Scarlets fly-half Patchell continue started for his country about the 2018 summer trip to Argentina, when he kicked 20 points as Wales beat the Pumas 30-12 in Santa Fe.
A hamstring and concussion problems subsequently combined to interrupt the 26-year-old’s international career, and place his location in Wales’ 31-man World Cup squad in question.
However an astonishing show off the bench through a 22-17 loss to Ireland last weekend served as a reminder of the caliber.
“It has been a hard year, that’s for certain,” Patchell explained. “I will not be looking back on it (last year ) too many times.
“It wasn’t the disaster many outlets made it seem like, however it wasn’t the year you would like going into a World Cup.
“A couple of concussions were difficult to manage, and tearing a hamstring wasn’t perfect. It stuttered any momentum that I tried to pick up during this season.
“Game one that I had been concussed, came back, began discovering a little rhythm and got concussed back again.
“I arrived back, then tore my hamstring and you’re forever chasing your own tail. It is exactly what it is and we’re where we are. Thankfully, it’s worked out for the best.”
Patchell and Jarrod Evans for its best were still competing to back up Dan Biggar at Japan Together with Gareth Anscombe ruled with a knee injury, seven days and they all had a final 40-minute marvel at the Principality Stadium.
It had been Patchell who won the coaches’ vote as he’d done for the 2015 World Cup if he was one of an initial recognized cut against Wales’ championship training squad that is expanded.
“He (Evans) dropped me a text following the statement, and I replied,” Patchell added. “That was very good .
“Obviously I felt for him. I could completely empathise with him, having been there myself four decades ago.
“It is not an easy place to be in. That’s game, somebody has to miss out. I believed for all nine of the boys who got text or a telephone call.
“Jarrod and I were distinctly aware that since a 10 you have to do what is ideal for your group. You can only deal with what is facing you.
“I had been talking to friends and family on the Friday night stating’that is it, we will see how it goes’.
“It is hard, trying to become as great as possible daily. If the cards fall the way, good. That’s how it goes When they don’t.
“The attention was as great as I could be for the team, trying to drive the staff around the playground and put us into great rankings and receive our shape moving. Luckily, the coaches liked what they saw, I suppose.”
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