Wales take on England in Gloucester tonight (FRI) and Davey has called up teenager Gavin Quinnell – son of Derek and younger brother of Scott and Craig – to add some bulk at No 8.
The youngest Quinnell is the biggest of them all and doesn’t get much change out of 20 stones when he takes to the scales.
Welsh dreams of defending last season’s Six Nations crown have gone up in smoke after heavy losses to Ireland and France, but Davey is convinced his side will have a say in the final rankings.
“Gavin’s a very big man who is more than capable of crossing the advantage line,” Davey said.
“I don’t think there’ll be pressure on him because of his name. He’s his own man and he doesn’t have to live up to anyone else’s performances. It’s a year early for him but it’s up to him to take the opportunity.
“As a team, we have to improve our defence, but I think we’re due a good performance.”
Davey’s buildup to the Gloucester match – which is expected to be played in front of a crowd of 9,000 – has been hit by several injuries.
First-choice hookers Huw Bennett and Kieran Crawford are out, as are beanpole lock Luke Charteris and centre Richard Payne. Backrower andskipper Richie Pugh faces a late fitness test and is bracketed with the promising James Merriman.
England: J Clarke (Northampton); M Garvey (Gloucester), C Bell (Harlequins), A Reay (Harlequins), O Monye (Harlequins); A Jarvis (Harlequins), C Stuart-Smith (Leeds, capt); N Wood (Gloucester), R Hawkins (Bath), M Guess (Gloucester), J Percival (Worcester), C Day (Sale Sharks), B Russell (Saracens), W Skinner (Leicester), B Skirving (Saracens).
Replacements: S Friswell (Leicester), T Warren (Worcester), T Parker (Harlequins), L Narraway (Gloucester), R Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks), B Davies (Gloucester), J Bailey (Bristol Shoguns).
Wales: M Nuthall (Celtic Warriors); J Wellwood (Wasps), G Evans (Llanelli), L Thomas (Pontypridd), F Brillante (Cardiff); N Macleod (Cardiff Blues), R Rees (Swansea); J Yapp (Blues), W Kay (Newcastle), C Griffiths (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), I Evans (Pontypridd), J Mills (Bath), R Dale (Newport), G Quinnell (Llanelli), R Pugh (Ospreys, capt)/J Merriman (Gloucester).
Replacements: A Yelland (Scarlets), I George (Newport), C Marpenko (Pontypridd), Merriman/T Brown (Hartpury College), J Ireland (Cross Keys), M Jones (Neath), L Andrews (Cardiff).
