Dewi Lake’s first game as a hooker was for Skewen in the WRU National Championship against Trebanos.
It wasn't an afternoon for faint hearts.
“There was a bit of rivalry there and there were a few head butts and punches flying around to begin with,” Lake later said.
“It was a bit different, a baptism of fire I suppose, but I’m glad I did it.”
The thing is with the young Ospreys and Wales hooker, he doesn’t back down.
While he is only 22 and very much a new kid on the block in Test rugby, he is competitive to the point where it sometimes looks as if might be prepared to take on the opposition on his own.
At Twickenham on Saturday, two worlds collided when Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd product Lake, with just three Wales caps and 20 regional outings in his backstory, went head to head with Haileybury-educated Jamie George, Lions hooker in all three Tests in 2017 with 64 England caps and close on 250 Saracens appearances in his locker.
Some young players might have been intimidated by the experience factor.
If Lake was, he made a good job of disguising it.
Indeed, he and George fought a battle within a battle at one stage as the match headed for its business end.
It started when England won a scrum penalty. Words had clearly been exchanged during the set-piece and when the two packs broke up there were more verbals with England's replacement hooker appearing to take the lead.
Lake responded in kind and the pair went nose to nose, appearing ready to kick off until Jack Nowell came dashing across in a peacemaking role. The Welsh deputy hooker hooker was smiling wryly as his vice-captain Adam Beard guided him away.
A micro-win for George, then?
Well, England won the scrum penalty.
But a chance to settle the score wasn’t long in coming.
From the next lineout after the hosts had kicked to touch, George offered himself as a carrier, making good ground until being hauled down by Leon Brown. Sensing his chance, Lake — who, as as schoolboy, looked up to Richie McCaw — swooped devastatingly for the turnover, locking over the ball with power and technique. As he rose to his feet, George stared at the newcomer who had just snaffled a penalty at his expense, again appearing to utter a word or two before turning away, dropping the ball as he did so.
Level pegging, then.
Next, a Lake lineout throw didn’t go where it was intended to go. George ran from the back of the set-piece around to where the Wales hooker was standing and, from a distance of around 10 yards and with a smile on his face, shouted something in the general direction of the opposition No. 16. It’s probably fair to conclude his words were not along the lines of ‘unlucky, old fellow — put it behind you, it happens to us all. Best of luck with your next throw’.
Lake did put it behind him, though, as he drove off a maul seconds later. Inevitably, George formed part of the reception party, helping to halt him with the help of Sam Simmonds. In commentary for ITV, Nick Mullins spoke admiringly of Lake as being a “mobile and strong young hooker”.
By the end, Wales’ replacement No. 2 had made 24 metres from six carries in 12 minutes.
He’d shown himself to be quite the handful, too.
For a few minutes, George and the youngster didn’t appear an on-pitch match made in heaven.
But maybe by the final whistle there was grudging respect.
In his short time on the field, Lake had once again made an impact.
Wayne Pivac rates him highly.
It’s not difficult to see why.
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