Scarlets hooker Owens has endured a difficult 11 months having injured a nerve in his back last autumn. The 35-year-old made his comeback last month and has impressed enough to force his way back into Wayne Pivac’s squad.
Owens, who has won 87 international caps for both Wales and the British & Irish Lions, is one of three hookers in the squad along with Ryan Elias and Bradley Roberts. He admits there were some difficult moments in his recovery but the thought of pulling on the red of Wales again was what kept him going.
“Yes, a couple of times but I think it was one of them I didn’t want to make the decision myself,” said Owens when asked if he doubted whether he’d ever return. “I wanted to see what happened.
“The medical advice from the surgeon was the nerve can take a bit of time. There were certain times where I thought do we keep going through it but thankfully I tried to stay as positive as I could be and got through it.
“I think the biggest thing was probably if I’d made the decision, would I regret in years to come if I’d gone too soon? If I’d have come back, I’d have known if I was able to compete at this level or not.
“I think it was making sure I’d done everything in my power to come back before making that decision. I think if I hadn’t done that, I’d have regretted it in years to come.
“The last 11 months have been tough, mentally, physically, after getting injured this week last year. I got through this morning’s session, which was the one that killed me off last year. It’s been tough in a number of different ways, not sure whether I was going to recover or not, but it has been a bit of a refresh as well, which has been good.
“I decided early on that I would give myself every opportunity to return, because I knew even for life after rugby I would need to do the rehab.”
There isn’t much Owens hasn’t achieved in the game with the experienced hooker having won four Six Nations Championships including two Grand Slams while he was a test Lions in New Zealand in 2017 and South Africa last summer.
Owens is one of the very few Welsh players to have beaten the All Blacks having figured in the Lions’ second test victory in Wellington five years ago. But he has never beaten the men in black wearing the red of Wales which is something he dearly wants to tick off the list.
New Zealand may have endured a turbulent season losing two tests to Ireland and one on home soil to Argentina but they did recover to win the Rugby Championship. Owens is desperate to help his country win their first test against the All Blacks since 1953 at the Principality Stadium this Saturday.
“It would mean a hell of a lot,” said Owens. “Wales haven’t beaten New Zealand since 1953 and Llanelli were the last Welsh side to beat them.
“That shows you the challenge that is coming. Wins for Welsh teams are few and far between against New Zealand. It would be a nice little bit of history to be a part of.
“It’s always meant the world to me, representing my country. Last time I played for Wales, we lost out in France in a Grand Slam decider. That still nags at the back of my head.
“They are an outstanding team and they have been for as long as I can remember. They are the standard bearers, and they still are.
“They had a bit of transition time over the past two years ,but you’ve seen their quality during the Rugby Championship and how they can bounce back from setbacks and produce quality performances.”
