THE HERALD REPORTS TODAY

Lucky charm set to return

KEVIN FERRIE October 17 2008
He may have led a charmed life, but Thom Evans reckons he pushed his luck too far when boasting to his brother and team-mate Max about his good fortune recently.

"I must have jinxed myself because about a month ago I was chatting with Max and mentioned that in all my career I had never had a stitch - then I got 10 in the Connacht game and 40 in the Munster match, I hope that is the last of it," he admitted.

Most would reckon it was more in keeping with Evans' luck that when he suffered an injury that threatened his ex-pop singer good looks, a cosmetic specialist was on hand.

advertisementThe Glasgow Warriors winger, who has rattled in tries at the rate of one-per-game this season, had to miss last week's trip to Newport Gwent Dragons as a result of the freak injury suffered in an accidental collision at Munster.

"Mark McMillan put an up-and-under into the air and I was concerned because Doug Howlett was coming across, so I had to get there before him and was so concerned with keeping my eye on the ball that I didn't see Keith Earls coming in from full-back. I didn't take in the air, but was running full-out as he came in and his head hit me on the side of the face. It was on for Mark to pass, so I blame him," Evans laughed.

"I was not out cold, but the initial hit was so big I don't really remember it. I recall a second later getting off the ground, but it was only when I caught my reflection in the mirror that I realised how serious it was. I could not really feel anything, though I knew there was blood.

"The cut was right down the lip. Luckily there was a plastic surgeon in the crowd supporting Munster and he very kindly came down and stitched it up, otherwise I would have had to wait for about four hours in hospital. He did it there and then. I am not a big fan of injections so that was the worst bit," said the 23-year-old.

However, with the kiss of life required to revive Scottish interest in the Heineken Cup, the man most capable of taking the game to three-time European champions Toulouse tonight has been given every opportunity to be in the side. His desperation to be there speaks massively for his attitude.

"I have done contact this week on the shields, but did not join the big contact session on Tuesday. I spoke to the medics and they thought it would be better to leave it until the game. Two of my teeth are still quite wobbly, so it makes sense to leave it as long as I can," he added.

Having found his best form since joining the Warriors, missing last week's match was all the more frustrating.

"I was gutted to come off in Limerick. I felt at the time - before I saw what had happened - that I could have carried on. To then miss the Dragons with the weather as good as it was was another massive blow, but I am really looking forward to playing Toulouse. They play the kind of game that is really good to watch, so it will be good to test myself against the best in Europe," said Evans. "I am fired up for it like everyone else, we will give it a real go."

They will have to because Toulouse have made clear their intent with their team selection. Among six changes following their last-gasp home win over Bath last week are the recalls of local heroes Clement Poitrenaud, Florian Fritz and Yannick Nyanga, as well as international props Daan Human and Salvatore Perugini. Contrary to agency reports earlier this week, Byron Kelleher starts the match having been cleared after being cited for an alleged stamping on Butch James during last week's match, while Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, his scrum-half rival, is fit to start on the bench.

Evans' partnership with his older brother was among the features of the Warriors' one eye-catching performance of the season when they overran the Scarlets at Firhill last month. "That was a great game for both of us, especially the try he set me up for," said Thom. "I am hoping it stays dry on Friday and we really get to stretch Toulouse in attack. To come up against a side like that and cut them up would be a fantastic feeling."

That may seem over-optimistic, but Evans has never been short on the sort of self-belief required for such a challenge. That has helped him become a firm favourite with the home support and he is hoping they can lift one another.

"The crowd are amazing," he said. "They may not be the biggest, but they sure make a big noise. Come Friday night I am sure they will be that extra man. We will need them."

This article was posted on 17-Oct-2008, 07:36 by Hugh Barrow.