SCARLETS: ‘It’s a matter of when, not if’: Davies backs Macs Page to play for Wales after squad snub

Nigel Davies says it is “a matter of when, not if” Macs Page plays for Wales, after the Scarlets wing was left out of Steve Tandy’s November squad.

Page scored twice on his 50th appearance in the 47-14 win over Newcastle last Saturday.

Days later, Tandy named seven Scarlets in his 39-man Wales squad, but not Page.

“Obviously he’s been excellent in the first block of the season. It’s great that we’ve got seven boys in there and a lot of people are saying we should have eight with Macs,” Davies said.

‘Some really tough calls in most positions’

“I think Macs has been brilliant, what he needs to do is maintain his form really. I think from a Welsh perspective, Steve Tandy has probably got a situation where he hasn’t had before where he’s got some really tough calls in most positions now.”

“We’re creating a lot of depth, which we haven’t had, so he’s got some tough calls to make.”

Davies said Page “no doubt would have been one of those tough calls”.

“What Macs has got to do is just keep on going. His form is great; he’s got to be able to maintain that now. I’m sure if he does, he’s going to come into contention again.”

‘He’s just getting better’

“I suppose with Macs, it’s a matter of when, not if, he plays for Wales, given the way he’s developing. Definitely if he carries on the way he is. I think he’s just getting better.”

It echoes Scarlets coach Dwayne Peel, who said last week that “you can’t ignore players who can beat people”.

Wing for now, but Davies still sees a centre in Macs Page

Page has played at 12, 13 and on the wing, and this season the Scarlets have kept him out wide.

“We’ve sort of, for now, just allowed him to find his game on the wing, which has helped him as well. Rather than trying to get him to work at centre, which again, as I’ve always said, I think he can work there,” Davies said.

“I like the way that we just free him up a little bit more to attack on the wing. I think he’s been able to find his feet there; he knows his game now. He knows his areas of his game he’s got to work on.”

‘People don’t give him enough credit for his defensive work’

“But actually, when you look at his game, it’s fairly complete. His attack game is excellent, but people don’t give him enough credit for his defensive work as well.”

“He’s strong in the tackle and he’s very effective at breakdown.”

Stormers next for Macs Page, then the Wales Tests

Page starts on the left wing against the DHL Stormers in Cape Town this afternoon (3pm UK time).

Wales host Japan on 7 November, New Zealand on 14 November and Australia on 21 November, all at Principality Stadium.