Wales' Edwards vows to enjoy life at number 10
Enjoying life as a Wales fly-half can be testing, but Dan Edwards has vowed to embrace the pressure with a smile on his face. The Wales number 10 jersey is the most scrutinised position in Welsh rugby, as wearers look to follow in the footsteps of greats such as Cliff Morgan, Barry John, Phil Bennett, David Watkins and Jonathan Davies. In the professional era performers like Neil Jenkins, Stephen Jones, James Hook and Dan Biggar have graced the role.
Ospreys fly-half Edwards is the incumbent and has experienced adversity already. After starting Steve Tandy's first seven games in charge of Wales, the 23-year-old was dropped for the Six Nations match against Scotland in Cardiff in February. His replacement Sam Costelow impressed before the Scarlets fly-half picked up an injury.
This allowed Edwards to return for the final two matches against Ireland and Italy - he responded with a virtuoso 16-point performance against the Azzurri, including a try and a towering drop-goal, as Wales ended a three-year Six Nations losing streak. "I felt lucky to play the Irish and Italian games because if Costy (Costelow) didn't get injured, I probably wouldn't have been involved," said Edwards. "He had such a good game against Scotland so I felt lucky and had to make sure I took my opportunity.
" "I thought going into those two games, I play my best rugby when I look happy and a bit cheeky on the field," said Edwards. "I remember [Wales captain] Dewi Lake telling me he would hate to play against me if he looked across and I was having a laugh and a joke on the field. "You've probably seen in that Italian game, when I am playing with a smile on my face I am my best and probably when I'm at my most dangerous.
" His Ospreys head coach Mark Jones described Edwards' positivity as "infectious" and he exudes the confidence of a typical fly-half. "Some people might think it's a bit arrogant, or a bit cocky, but that's when I'm at my best," said Edwards. "When I'm out there having fun, playing the way I've always seen the game, taking people on and running with ball in hand.