Davies urged to reverse retirement for 2027 World Cup — SkimNews
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- Scott Baldwin urged Gareth Davies to reverse his 2024 international retirement for the 2027 World Cup, telling Radio Wales Sport the veteran scrum-half thrives under pressure and would be "just what you want in a quarter-final."
- Gareth Davies sparked Scarlets' comeback from 21-7 down to beat Benetton in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday after coming off the bench as a second-half replacement for Dane Blacker.
- Wales are drawn in Pool F at the 2027 World Cup in Australia against Zimbabwe, Tonga and England, with Davies having amassed 77 Test caps, two British and Irish Lions tours, a Grand Slam and a Six Nations title in a decade-long career.
- Baldwin compared a potential Davies recall to how Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus used retired Saracens hooker Schalk Brits at the 2019 World Cup, and recalled Davies' iconic try against England at the 2015 tournament that helped eliminate the hosts.
- Saracens' Tomos Williams is Wales' first-choice scrum-half, with Ospreys duo Keiran Hardy and Reuben Morgan-Williams the other options, while coach Steve Tandy should open talks with Davies according to Baldwin.
- Scarlets director of rugby Nigel Davies praised Davies' "superb" contribution off the bench, adding that the 36-year-old "did not look 36" during his match-defining cameo against Benetton.
Why it matters: With Wales in Pool F alongside England at the 2027 World Cup, a recalled Davies would add 77 caps of Test nous to a squad short on big-game scrum-half depth behind Tomos Williams. Baldwin's pitch rests on Scarlets' 21-7 comeback over Benetton — the on-field evidence he used to argue Wales' all-time leading URC try-scorer should not be shut out.
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