Angus O’Brien has been a big part of the Dragons’ Challenge Cup run and was close to a Wales call-up earlier this year
So often, when it comes to assessing whether a player can make the step up to Test rugby, it’s the highlight-worthy stuff that – rightly or wrongly – garners the most attention.
The tangible eye-catching moments or the intangible sense that there’s something X-factor about a player. Those moments of quality, physicality or whatever else that suggest they could survive, maybe even thrive, in the Test arena.
It might not be a fully-rounded game, but there’s bound to be one facet that just makes you sit up and take notice.
And so, when you come to look at Wales’ full-back options right now, it’s the flashy stuff that is leading the pack.
Louis Rees-Zammit, as a winger, is obviously outstanding. The pace he possesses instantly makes him a headache for defences.
Even on an off-day, if you give him a sniff, he can hurt you.
It’s a similar story for Blair Murray. His elusive footwork is his own unique selling point.
The Scarlets man beat 45 defenders in his first full calendar year in the Welsh jersey. The next best effort by a Welshman was Jac Morgan with 14.
Those are the upsides, but the downsides have been discussed widely too.
Rees-Zammit isn’t up to speed at full-back yet, while there have been concerns over Murray’s ability under the high ball.
The smart money would still be on Rees-Zammit being given the time to learn full-back upon his return from the NFL.
But there’s perhaps scope for something a little steadier in Wales’ backfield.
And so the mind turns back to the words of Olly Cracknell back in the autumn, after the tough-as-teak back-row had made his long-awaited Welsh debut at the age of 31.
“I am not necessarily going to come up with special moments all the time but I will hopefully be someone that keeps turning up,” he said. “That provides something different in a way.
“There are a lot of players in the team that can do special things and maybe I can offer something steady. “It’s taken me quite a while to realise that’s OK and that’s enough, I can be a player who does some of the not so pretty stuff. I am hopeful that’s enough.”
For Cracknell, it’s about the fundamentals.
There’s another 31-year-old vying for a Welsh call-up who perhaps would hold a similar viewpoint.
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Angus O’Brien, fresh from scoring 31 points in the past two weekends to send the Dragons to a Challenge Cup semi-final, has perhaps never been closer to a Wales call-up.
Earlier this year, Wales’ coaches got in touch with the full-back to explain why he wasn’t in the Six Nations squad.
“I had a call from Matt Sherratt and it was good to get some feedback,” said O’Brien earlier this season. “Everybody wants to play for Wales and I am no different but ultimately my job is to do as well as I can for the Dragons.
“I try not to think about Wales too much. It’s still a goal and I would love the opportunity one day but I just focus on being the best that I can to help us continue our momentum.”
The European exploits will have helped his cause. Having never been involved in a Wales squad, Steve Tandy could certainly do worse than look at the former Wales Sevens international ahead of summer Tests against Fiji, Argentina and South Africa.
A calming influence on the Dragons as co-captain alongside Wales starter Ben Carter, O’Brien’s booming boot and playmaking ability would perhaps be the point of difference that could earn him a call-up.
Rees-Zammit’s boot, while big, is still a little uncultured at this stage. And Sherratt, having used Cameron Winnett as a tertiary playmaker beyond his 10-12 axis at Cardiff, does like someone with vision in the 15 jersey.
“I still feel 25,” admitted O’Brien on Saturday night after the Dragons reached the last four, before addressing a possible Wales call-up. “That would be an unbelievable goal of mine.
“I’m just so proud of where we’ve come at the Dragons this season and the growth we’re making. We’ve got a semi-final to look forward to now.”
Beyond that clash with Montpellier next month, perhaps – over a decade after turning out for Wales U20s – another personal milestone awaits O’Brien.
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