Gareth Davies of Newcastle Emlyn who made a big impact when coming on as a substitute for Wales in the Test defeat against South Africa at the weekend is being tipped to replace 31-year-old Mike Phillips in the starting line-up for the second Test in Nelspruit this Saturday.

There were many who felt coach Warren Gatland was too cautious in his team selection for the game that Wales lost 38-16 and that 23-year-old Scarlets scrum-half Davies, one of the outstanding performers in club rugby last season, should have been given his chance in front of Phillips, who has not sparkled for his country in recent times and is not assured of his place with French club Racing Metro.

From the moment Davies entered the fray Wales came to life and one superb break by him around the tail of a lineout very nearly led to a try.

After the heavy defeat Wales legend Graham Price called on Gatland to make changes for the second Test and felt that Phillips’ position was under scrutiny with Davies knocking on the door.