Six Nations 2018: Sevens star James Davies finally set to make 15-a-side debut for Wales against Italy

James Davies may already have won an Olympic silver medal but the 27-year-old younger brother of Wales star Jonathan is still yet to realise his childhood dream.

All that will finally change at the Principality Stadium on Sunday against Italy, when the experienced Scarlets flanker will make what many believe to be a long-overdue international debut in the 15-a-side code after starring for Great Britain Sevens during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Davies, or “Cubby Boi” as he is affectionately known in reference to his older brother’s nickname “Foxy”, only made his 15-a-side debut for Scarlets four years ago but such have been the quality of his performances, it has been baffling as to why his first cap has taken so long.

Perhaps Josh Navidi’s performances so far in the Six Nations, in place of injured Sam Warburton, have gone some way to explaining that conundrum but few who have watched Davies excel for his region doubt he will thrive on the international stage.

“As a rugby player in Wales I didn’t grow up dreaming about the Olympics because it wasn’t an Olympic sport then. Your dream was to play for Wales and, hopefully, I will go on the pitch on Sunday fit, play well and achieve that dream,

“I felt like I have played consistently but I have not been getting that chance, so you do think it’s never going to happen. But we are here now and I have got that chance. I want to take it with both hands.

“It was frustrating but I have tried to just keep working on what I need to do a bit better. Now the coaches have changed their minds. Maybe I have convinced a few others and now I have got my opportunity.”

With Warren Gatland making 10 changes to his starting line-up to the side that lost to Ireland, Davies has a chance to state his case for a World Cup spot next year when Wales face Italy on Sunday.

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Former Italy scrum-half Paul Griffen on Thursday described Gatland’s selection as “disrespectful” although with three British and Irish Lions in George North, Taulupe Faletau and Justin Tipuric returning to the starting XV, that claim may sound a little hollow come Sunday night.

In Davies, whose older brother Jon remains sidelined with a badly fractured foot he sustained last November against Australia, Gatland has picked a skilful and pacey marauder who bases his game on the fitness built up in the high-octane sevens circuit where cardiovascular strength is king.

“Having been in the sevens environment, the training for the Rio Olympics was probably the hardest I have done,” he said. “Because of that, you know you can go to the very edge and come out the other end. It’s been tough but really enjoyable.

“It’s a different sport. It’s more the mental edge, you know you can train and you’re going to be fine at the end of it. I just knew, whatever they were going to throw at me, I was going to be able to handle it. That was the biggest thing from the Olympics.”

With tattoos on his knuckles of his “Cubby Boi” nickname, the result of a drunken night out in Las Vegas with team-mates Rhys Priestland, Gareth Davies and Liam Williams, Davies built a reputation as a wild child which could have held him back in the eyes of instinctively conservative coaches. He’s been on his best behaviour in camp over the past few weeks.

“I’m not stupid,” he added. “I enjoy myself but I wasn’t going to come in here and pee off all the coaches. I knew I had to be adaptable coming into this environment. I have done that and maybe changed a few people’s opinion of my character.”

With Faletau captaining the side for the first time in the absence of the rested Alun Wyn Jones and injured Sam Warburton, Wales will look to build on their newly adopted “all court” game which has so far produced plenty of attractive rugby but not enough victories.

Back to back defeats to England and Ireland put an end to their Six Nations title aspirations but a bonus-point win would help ease their supporters’ frustrations.

North returns to the starting line-up following his so far unexplained public fall out with Northampton’s interim coach Alan Gaffney last weekend while Liam Williams and Steff Evans complete an exciting looking Wales back three.

With Italy on a 15-match losing run but also intent on broadening their attacking horizons, everything points to an open game between two sides with nothing to lose.

Davies’s performance will be fascinating to watch as he realises his boyhood dream on the hallowed Cardiff turf.