The Ospreys lock has his heart set on winning his place back in the starting side to face Australia a week on Saturday with a strong performance against the South Sea Islanders having missed out on the matchday 23 for the opening two Tests of the autumn.
But those aspirations may yet have to play second fiddle to fatherhood as Evans’ wife Angharad is expecting their first child next week. The 29-year-old admits that an early labour would lead to a dash to hospital, although he is hopeful that Angharad can hang on until after Friday night to leave him with double reason to celebrate this weekend.
“She’s been very understanding during my career, to be fair. She has been fully supportive in everything I wanted to do, but I don’t think I’ve got a say in this one. It’s a life-changing experience,” said Evans, who jetted off to Wales’ tour of Australia in 2012 just a day after getting married and at the expense of his honeymoon.
“I’m just on stand-by now waiting for the little one to pop out. My mobile is in my pocket all the time and I’m waiting to see if it starts vibrating.
“I think you’d probably see me doing a sharp exit through the tunnel, if that happened! I don’t think she’d forgive me this time!”
Evans has seen Alun Wyn Jones, Bradley Davies and Luke Charteris all feature at lock for Wales against South Africa and Argentina and he knows that he has some ground to make up if he is to get the nod for the final Dove Men Series clash of the month against the Wallabies.
The summer Lions tourist was struggling with an Achilles injury at the start of the autumn campaign but is now fighting fit and ready to prove his worth once more.
“If I want to play in the last autumn game I am going to have to pull all the stops out. To be fair to Brad, Alun Wyn and Luke, all three of them have played extremely well,” added Evans.
“All I can do is have a good game on Friday night and put my hand up and put my name in the hat for selection for the Australia game.
“I did full training all of last week and I came through that unscathed, so I am feeling pretty confident. It has been very frustrating, but I’ve got a chance for a game of rugby, which is quite strange at the minute, but one I am looking forward to.”
