Rhys Priestland has stepped “out of the shadows and into the light”, according to the Bath director of rugby, Todd Blackadder. However, the fly-half believes the prospect of a comeback for Wales this autumn remains bleak.
Freddie Burns had been expected to take the Bath No10 jersey but Priestland has been among the sharpest performers of the opening two weeks of the Premiership, guiding his side to consecutive victories, and he keeps his place at Northampton on Friday.
His emergence has come as result of George Ford’s return to Leicester and his performances – particularly in the 31‑21 victory over Saracens last Saturday – have led to calls in Wales for a return to the international fold. Priestland has not played for Wales since June 2016 and last started a Test in the fixture with Uruguay at the 2015 World Cup.
“I would be surprised if I play for Wales again,” the 30-year-old former Scarlets player said. “You might think I am making it up but I haven’t given it any thought at all. I am at ease. I have played 48 times [for Wales] and I don’t have sleepless nights worrying about whether I am going to get into the Wales squad or not.”
Priestland was set for a dazzling Wales career after emerging during the 2011 World Cup, producing perhaps his finest international performance in the quarter-final victory over Ireland. But his form for his country nosedived to the extent he was booed when he came off the bench in November 2014.
His move to Bath after the 2015 World Cup was said to include an 18-month international sabbatical at the time, but he swiftly returned to the picture in 2016 only for injuries, and the fact Jamie Roberts, Taulupe Faletau and George North were preferred as the three wildcard picks for players based outside Wales, to mean he was overlooked last year.
Wales would still have to use one of their wildcards to pick Priestland, who signed a new Bath contract in January, though Warren Gatland does has four for the campaign (he will have only two next season). Priestland is not expecting the call, however, with Dan Biggar, Sam Davies and Rhys Patchell among his fly-half rivals.
“I am not a stupid boy. I know realistically if they were going to pick three players it would be Jamie, Toby and George North. And I was injured as well. I was never going to get picked,” Priestland said. “And they have got a lot of good options at fly-half, and a lot of young guys who are going to get better and better.”
Priestland’s breakthrough at Bath has been a long time coming. In his first season, with Mike Ford in charge, he managed only nine starts and a knee injury restricted him to six last term. Signing a new deal in January was an easy decision, however, and he does not envisage a return to the game in Wales. “I would like to finish in the Premiership, in terms of life after rugby,” he said.
“I could see myself finishing up here. I’ve got two years left [at Bath], and I feel pretty fit at the moment, so I will just see how long that can keep going. I have found it tough sometimes. A lot of games I didn’t get on [the pitch], which I found quite frustrating. There have been a lot of ups and downs but I have always loved being at Bath.”
While Priestland’s talents have not been in question, his mentality sometimes has. He has admitted he was no longer enjoying his rugby at the Scarlets but with Blackadder in charge, he is flourishing at Bath.
“He’s been absolutely outstanding. I thought the way he controlled the game last week was the best I’ve seen from any No10,” Blackaddder said of the Wales exile’s performance against Saracens, and Priestland said the coach from New Zealand is getting the best out of him.
“He’s a very good technical coach but he’s worked hard on the mental toughness and the consistency,” Priestland said. “That’s the New Zealand thing. Todd wants good people here. If someone is not pulling their weight then we can’t really have that.”
