The Ospreys outside half helped to steer Wales to a 24-6 win over Tonga in Auckland last week and is now preparing to make it a clean sweep against the Pacific islanders. Wales haven’t played in Samoa since 1994, when they were beaten 34-9 in searing heat.
“Samoa will be a completely different test and the boys will relish it. We’re going into the game in a good place after the result against Tonga,” said Davies.
“I’m sure it’s going to be dry out there, and quite hot, so we’re going to have to adapt quite quickly to that in training during the week. I’ve got full confidence in the boys we can go out there and do a job.”
Wales have lost try scorer Alex Cuthbert to injury and hooker Kristian Dacey, prop Tom Francis, lock Cory Hill and scrum half Gareth Davies since the Tongan triumph at Eden Park. Interim head coach Robin McBryde has resisted the temptation to call-up more players and Davies says that everyone is determined to improve on last week’s performance.
“The conditions were tough with the rain that came down in the second half. We blew a couple of opportunities and could have put the game to bed in the first half,” he added.
“But fair play to Tonga, they didn’t go away. We fronted up in defence and controlled the game in the second half and that’s credit to the boys – it was good and I really enjoyed it.
“We spoke a lot about putting the ball off the field and testing Tonga’s line-out. I think we did that and, in the second half, we got the territory we needed.
“There is still a lot to learn from that game moving into Samoa next week, but this is still quite a positive start for us as a group.”
Davies hit the upright twice in the first half with kicks at goal and ended up with four from seven to contribute 12 points to the Welsh victory at Eden Park. It was a tough night at the office for the prolific points-scorer, but he kept plugging away until he got things right.
“I thought my first kick was going over before the wind took it, but that happens. The other two were kicks I missed, but it’s all about bouncing back and I was able to do that,” he added.
“I stuck to my process, stayed calm and struck a couple of important kicks in the second half. That’s part and parcel of your job. If you miss a couple of kicks people will be on your back, but I had to make sure I nailed the others and I did.
“I think we could have scored a few tries if we’d kept hold of the ball in the first half. The coaches and players know that. We’ll flag that up and we know if we do less turnovers we’ll be in a better place next week.”
