All of a sudden the battle for the Welsh wing spots is hotting up with Josh Adams, George North, Liam Williams and Owen Lane all being chased by Ashton Hewitt and Evans. Add in the versatile Hallam Amos and Jonah Holmes, as well as Luke Morgan, and the strength in depth is greater than it has been for some time.
Both Evans and Hewitt grabbed two tries each as professional rugby returned in the Guinness PRO14 last weekend and they could both go up against each other on Sunday when the Dragons host the Scarlets in a battle between two European Challenge Cup quarter-finalists at Rodney Parade.
Hewitt has yet to win a full cap, while Evans played in the last of his 13 Tests in the World Cup warm-up match with Ireland a year ago. Next week he celebrates his 26th birthday and Glenn Delaney believes he will have more to celebrate when Wayne Pivac announces his next Wales Squad.
“I have worked with him for a year now and he has been in and out of the Welsh group. But for me he is just working hard every day. I think he is back to where he was when he first got picked by Wales.,” said Delaney.
“I’m seeing a player who is putting his hand up for international selection again. Wayne and Stephen Jones know him really well and what they saw from him against the Blues will have pleased them.
“If he keeps working day to day, week to week, then performances like the one against the Blues are going to keep on happening. I just want us to get the ball in his hands as often as possible because if we can do that something is going to happen.”
Evans’ is renowned for his lightening quick side step and speed off the mark and it was his trickery that opened up the Blues defence for the first try at Parc y Scarlets. He then showed his predatory instincts as he charged down a Harri Millard kick to create the first of his two scores.
The second was a classic kick and chase effort that took his try tally for the Scarlets to 48 in 112 appearances.
“His new haircut is outstanding. That’s a game changer for me when you come in with hair like that – you have to be able to back it up,” said Delaney.
“We always praise Steff’s try scoring ability, and sometimes I don’t know how he does it, but the bit that is so good for him for us is his defensive work.
“He is turning defences in all the time and his positional play out wide is some of the best I’ve ever worked with. He makes us really function out there.
“When you look at him and Leigh Halfpenny combining on the edges, it really gives the guys on their inside a chance to be aggressive. If you are saying our defence is aggressive then it is probably because someone like Steff has done his job on the edge.”
