One of my greatest achievements in my Wales' career was to last 15 years as the squad laundry. My role was to make sure that when we were off, all the washes of all were made. That came to an end after my retirement in 2023.
Now, it is Dan Edwards who has taken care of the work. Not only that, Dan is also a no 10 like me, and since Swansea has come through the system in the Ospreys.
The similarities are strange!
Therefore, it was great to sit with him at the Hotel Team de Wales in Nice on Tuesday to get to know him better. I hadn't talked to Dan before doing so. It is a new face for the team.
The first thing I had to say was about how seriously I took the work of laundry and that I hoped he was doing the same! “I think it's going well,” Dan told me.
'I feel much safer day by day and know everyone much better. I was very nervous first when entering the environment.
Dan Edwards (Left) has inherited Dan Biggar's role as Wales Lavandería for the current side
Edwards made his debut at Wales Hish 43-0 defeat by France in the Curtain Collector of the Six Nations
Biggar sat with his flymate in the middle of the hotel of the Wales team in a pleasure to meet him better
“I've only been trying to learn as much as possible from experienced children.”
They are now a complete international after making their debut in Wales on Friday night in the heavy defeat for 43-0 of France. His proof bow also occurred strangely to mine.
In November 2008, I left the bank for my debut against Canada long before planned after James Hook was injured. The same happened to Dan in Paris, when the Owen Watkin center fell with a knee problem and approached Ben Thomas moved to the center of the field. I never had time to get nervous and it was good for me. It was the same for Dan.
“I took long before what I expected with Owen,” he said. “I made a joke on the bank as if I said:” Here we go “and then I was on.
'It probably made things easier for me, since I had no time to think about it.
'International Rugby is a step forward with the tempo of the game. The differences from the level of the club are massive. I tend to have enough confidence in the field. Outside the field, I am different: quieter and quieter. With the fishermen eagles, I have taken a lot of confidence in the last 12 months.
'Although I am new in the Welsh configuration and I am still learning, I want to put my stamp on things and play as I want to play.
'When you look at the players who have played in the 10 before and talk here now, you realize how big the shirt is. It is the one everyone wants to use.
Biggar's debut in 2008 saw him throw it before expected with James Hook coming out
Edwards's debut occurred in similar circumstances after a knee injury suffered by Owen Watkin
'I know you must be prepared to take a little stick. People have different opinions. But it's about having a rhinoceros skin and moving on. I need to do what I think is correct.
At 21, they are still very, very young. And it has entered a side of Wales that is fighting badly after having lost its last 13 evidence, an unfortunate career that is a record for the country.
It is a real contrast when I entered the team.
I was greatly fortunate to enter a talented Welsh squad he was winning. That is not the case now, but what I have heard about Dan is that he really has something about him.
It has some arrogance. A little edge.
I love that. It is something that I would like to think that I had in my game and, without a doubt, it is true that you need to prosper at the highest level. What this Wales team now needs as much as good rugby players are the great characters. It is unfair to ask Dan too much since he is still very young, but that it can be one of those who in the future. So what is your greatest strength?
'Jesús Biggs! You are putting me on the spot there, “he said.
'I would say that it is my ability to forget a mistake and move on. Like 10, as you know, you can miss a kick and everyone will hammer you. But you must put it at the bottom of your mind and move on. My attitude is that you have to take the shot.
Edwards has entered the side of Wales that he is fighting badly after having lost his last 13 tests
The young international Welsh has arrogance, a little advantage, something key to prosper in the international game
“You won't get it if you don't try.”
That kind of words are music for my ears.
Dan is pressing hard to start in the middle of the fly for Wales against Italy. It is a game that must win for the team because if they lost, there is a good possibility that it can be six other nations without victories. Such a scenario would probably mean that Warren Gatland will leave as a coach.
There was good news for Wales of the Azur Cote on Tuesday, with the key strikers Taulupe Faletau and Aaron Wainwright in training before facing Italy.
Faletau is one of the best of Wales, but the game of France was lost with a knee injury. His rear -race partner Wainwright suffered a serious facial cut against Les Bleus.
Wales expects both players to be available to Rome.
For me, the Italy-Wales game is a draw of the layer. It promises to be very, very tight and could go anyway. Italy are favorites with advantage at home.
'Cwmavon is my local club. I played there since I was five years old, '' Dan told me. I love the club and my family too. I would play rugby on weekends and the Cricket in the week.
The Warren Gatland team travels to Rome that needs a result against Italy to start its campaign
Taulupe Faletau is one of the best of the Wales, but the game of France was lost with a knee injury
'I have always loved my sport. With my cryket, I was a batter and I also made a little wickt. I made some of Cwmavon's boys come to Paris, but they are all in Rome.
'It would mean a lot for me personally and for my family get the shirt no 10.
'It's something I have always wanted. Now I am here in the squad, but I still effort me to do it. It's a dream come true to be here, but I can't be happy with that. I have been watching during the last year and I really felt for the boys.
'I know how desperate they have been to win. We cannot be afraid. Our trust has been a bit low, but we have to recover it.
'Warren has tried to give me confidence. He told me why he has chosen me in the team and that he has seen me improve in the last six months. He told me that they have chosen me for a reason.
'We all know how enormous this game is this weekend. It is not the position in which we want to be, but it is the elephant in the room and we cannot ignore it. We have to address it.
'We cannot enter our shells and squeeze. We need to play with freedom. We have to handle the game well, but if it is underway, we have to leave.
'The most important thing this weekend is the result. It is the test of the test test at the end of the day. We all know that it is the result. We have to win. We have to do it.