There are some who might argue Scott Williams deserves a medal for merely forcing his way into contention for a place in Wales’ World Cup squad.
He has, after all, had the year from hell, with hamstring, ankle and back problems confining him to the sidelines for long periods. After all he’s been through, the motor-racing enthusiast could be forgiven for comparing himself to a battered old Escort, with countless panels having needed attention over the years.
But here’s the thing about the 28-year-old from Carmarthen: he never gives up.
He is one of Welsh rugby’s most fierce competitors who would fight a tetchy crocodile for its lunch if such an act allowed him to move a millimetre closer to a place in the Wales set-up.
“He’s a ferocious competitor,” says one of his former midfield partners at the Scarlets, Gareth Maule.
“Not only is he strong physically, he is also hard mentally.
“Injuries are part of sport and a player has to deal with them. It can help if an individual has something to aim at, and for Scott the prospect of playing at another World Cup will have driven him on.”
But there is nothing guaranteed about Williams making the cut for the global tournament in Japan.
If selection were based solely on experience and standing the 57-cap Osprey would stroll a place in the 31-strong party that will be announced on Sunday.
For he has previously captained Wales and forged a reputation for scoring important tries, none more so than the Triple Crown-clinching touchdown against England at Twickenham in 2012. He is also a seriously reassuring presence. “Scott’s a tough nut — you wouldn’t want to tangle with him,” laughs Maule.
But there are issues that count against him.
For a start, he hasn’t begun a game of rugby since January and spent 12 weeks on the sidelines during the autumn. The probability is there’s a significant amount of rust to blow away.
He is also competing for a place with a young player in Owen Watkin who has stayed fit and healthy in recent times and been part of the Wales squad for the past two years.
So what’s it to be? With Jonathan Davies and Hadleigh Parkes certainties for the tournament in the Far East, it looks a straight call between the two Ospreys, assuming Warren Gatland includes just three specialist centres in his squad.
It is arguably the tightest decision the coach will have to make.
Does he sacrifice all that know-how Williams has accumulated over so many battles over so many years? Or does he opt to travel without the rich and potentially game-breaking promise of Watkin? Or does he follow the lead of Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa and name four centres? If he goes down that road it might mean taking 17 forwards and 14 backs and that would be a surprise.
It is worth asking, too, whether it is too late for anyone to change Gatland’s mind.
The New Zealander has been working with Williams on and off for eight years and has been overseeing Watkin for the past two years at Test level. There is a school of thought that if the coaches don’t know what each player can do now, they will never know.
“My guess is Warren Gatland will make the decision to suit the balance of his squad rather than on how someone plays in one particular game,” says Maule, who is now a players’ agent.
“If it does come down to a choice between Scott and Owen Watkin, at least Gatland will know whoever he picks won’t let him down.
“Scott is a good all-round rugby player who can play an abrasive game but also be a link-man. He can distribute, take the ball forward and there’s an edge about him.
“There are no weaknesses there, really.
“Owen Watkin is exceptionally good, too.
“He may be young but he is a quality footballer who can also defend.
“And they are both good at stripping the ball in the tackle.”
Watkin’s old Ospreys backs coach Gruff Rees remains a big fan of the youngster, telling WalesOnline last term: “He has a wonderful skillset that can be developed over time.
"You want him on the ball as much as possible. He also has a passing game that is really underrated."
It will be intriguing to see what kind of shape Williams is in after so long out of the game.
“He’ll give it his all if he plays at the weekend,” says Maule.
“It would be great to see him stick his hand up and give the coaches something to think about.
“I just think it’s good for Wales that they have two such strong players seemingly vying for a place.”
Gatland probably knows who he is taking by now.
But at the final minute of the 11th hour is it too late for someone to give him pause for thought?
Only Wales’ head coach will know the answer to that one.
