There is an unwritten rule that a 20-year-old making his first start in professional rugby should feel more than a shade nervous.
Will Reed had evidently forgotten to read the memo. When he made his first appearance in a Dragons run-on side against the Ospreys last May, in opposition to Wales international Gareth Anscombe, he set up two tries in the opening nine minutes, looking like calmness personified.
The young fly-half just seemed to know what he was doing. There were no slashing breaks or dazzling sidesteps, but his passing and kicking were high class and he made good decisions.
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Jared Rosser’s opening try came after Reed created space with a pass and then Adam Warren profited after a manufactured kick behind the defence from the No. 10. Every time the east Wales side attacked they looked dangerous.
Later, Dragons rugby boss Dean Ryan urged caution from the media and supporters over the new boy but only after saying, unprompted, as his post-match press conference opened: “Led by a very impressive young man, our attack game was outstanding.”
Indeed it was, with Ryan's team scoring four tries all told against a team who pride themselves on their defence.
Others were also quick to pat Reed on the back. After a bright show from the Wales U20s cap against Cardiff next time out, opposite Rhys Priestland, former Dragons coach Ceri Jones compared him to an ultra-talented All Black.
“He reminds me a bit of Nick Evans, who I played with at Harlequins for a long time,” said Jones. “Nick was very level-headed and down to earth and played very flat to the line the same as Will does. They are not the same shape because Will is quite chunky, he’s a strong boy and a good defender. But in terms of his calmness and the way he plays so close to the line, there are definite similarities. If a 10 is level-headed and calm in situations, it calms everyone else down as well.” You can read more of Jones' views here.
The Dragons are unlikely to rush Reed, not with Sam Davies and the freshly signed JJ Hanrahan in their ranks, plus another new acquisition in Angus O’Brien, who is returning to the club from the Scarlets, albeit he can play at full-back as well.
It may not be a bad thing for Reed to be eased through on the senior scene in that it could give him an opportunity to further his rugby education at Welsh Premiership level alongside Matt O’Brien, with the pair teaming up superbly for Newport last term, with O’Brien featuring at inside centre.
Blacks and Ambers supporters frequently marvelled at O’Brien’s touches, skills and creativity. His beautifully flighted cross-kick to set up a try for wing Jon Morris in the Welsh Cup final was one of the moments of the Welsh rugby season. It was judged as accurately as a top golfer chipping the ball onto a green from 40 metres. Morris collected without breaking stride to claim the score. How can a young player not learn from being so close to craft on such a scale?
Newport team manager Mark Workman said: “It has helped Will to have Matt alongside him. We were really pleased with him last season. He was fantastic for us. It’s his rugby brain that impresses more than anything.
“He doesn’t have lightning pace or an amazing step, but he’s a very intelligent rugby player who is good tactically and doesn’t get flustered. For his age, he’s just quality.”
Workman, who played alongside fly-halves of the calibre of Gareth Rees, Dan Griffiths and Byron Hayward for Newport, said Reed hadn’t just shown up well on the field. Off the pitch, he's also looked the part.
“He’s a lovely kid with a great attitude,” he added. “I played alongside his dad Steve, who was a winger with Newport and Cross Keys, and Will is entirely grounded. Sometimes when we have players down from the Dragons, they don’t always buy in. But Will was different.
“He bought into every aspect of the club. That tells you a lot about what kind of person he is.
“For a young lad coming into a senior rugby environment he showed a lot of maturity. He contributes to team meetings, he’s switched on, he does his homework. With his attitude and application he could go all the way.
“We’ll miss him if he steps up with the Dragons more often, because he and Matt were great together last season, but the other side of the coin is we want to see all our young players develop.
“I have no doubt Will will do well. He has a huge amount going for him.”
Of course, it’s early days. But during a challenging 2021-22 for the Dragons, Reed was a ray of sunlight piercing the clouds in the closing weeks of the campaign.
How he develops over the coming seasons will be fascinating.
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