If there are any doubters out there continuing to wonder what Johnny McNicholl will bring to international rugby, a newly released set of statistics might enlighten them.
The figures underline the man from Christchurch’s consistent excellence since he arrived in the regional game three years ago.
Provided by Opta, the sports analytics people, the numbers point to a level of performance that pretty much every back-three man in European rugby would be happy to put his name to.
McNicholl ranks second for tries in the Guinness PRO14 since his Scarlets debut in November 2016, with 26. Only Steff Evans, with 27, has posted more touchdowns.
He and Evans also dominate the figures for clean breaks, with McNicholl (68) just behind his regional team-mate, who has cut the opposition line 73 times in that period.
McNicholl has also banged in more minutes of rugby (4,296) than any other PRO14 player bar the Ospreys’ Dan Evans (4,689), while he’s fourth in terms of metres made (3,449) and defenders beaten (156).
Interestingly, Willis Halaholo, who had to pull out of Wales’ squad for this weekend’s game with the Barbarians, tops the defenders beaten section over the past three years with 188.
Lining up on the wing against the Baa-Baas, McNicholl is sure to be the focus for much attention as he looks to make a mark in his first game for his adopted country.
Supporters will hope the ball goes his way.
Sometimes that doesn’t happen for a player — recall how Luke Morgan didn’t receive a pass until the 65th minute when he played for Wales against Scotland in the 2018 autumn series.
It was a crying shame for a player whose pace and opportunism at regional level had earned him a place in Warren Gatland’s starting XV.
But the assumption is if McNicholl is not seeing much ball he will be prepared to roam off his wing and go looking for it.
He will need to be careful because there are enough good players in the Baa-Baas set-up to take advantages of gaps in the Wales defence, but the former Crusader who played alongside the likes of Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read and Sam Whitelock has enough experience to know when to be bold and when not to.
He is a class act and the odds are he will succeed with Wales.
It was once said of the England cricketer David Gower that he makes batting look as easy as drinking tea.
Much the same can be said about McNicholl when it comes to posing an attacking threat in rugby.
If it’s asking a lot to light up the Principality Stadium in his first game at this level, he has what it takes to be a major asset in the coming seasons.
The statistics provide compelling evidence to back up that contention.
