It has been six long years since Rhys Webb started a Six Nations match for Wales.
The Stade de France was the venue, with Wales falling foul to a last minute try from Damien Chouly, which condemned Rob Howley's team to a 20-18 defeat in a match which lasted a remarkable 100 minutes.
Wales finished a disappointing fifth in that year's championship but Webb was a bright spark, with his form catapulting the Bridgend man onto a British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.
The very idea of Webb facing years in the international wilderness would have been laughed at back in 2017 but some careers are smoother than others. A move to Toulon resulted in Webb becoming the first victim of the Welsh Rugby Union's controversial 60 cap law, and upon returning to the Ospreys to make himself eligible again he fell out of favour with former head coach Wayne Pivac.
"A lot has happened in those six years," said the 34-year-old. "I went to France, came back, and got left out. I don't regret anything.
"For me things happen for a reason. I've never been one to let my standards slip, I've always wanted to be involved in the Wales team and have that number nine jersey.
"For me personally nothing has changed. It's down to the coach and the coaches' decision."
It's been a tough road back to the top for Webb who has been forced to watch from the sidelines when deep down he knew he was still good enough to play Test rugby.
For Webb that burning desire to represent his country never left him, with every setback strengthening his determination to reclaim the Wales number nine jersey.
"I took my son, his age group were going to watch the game in the Principality Stadium with his rugby team," said Webb.
"He asked if I could go and I was like, ‘Oh gosh, do I have to?’ But I went and when the boys were singing the anthem and the crowd were going, it felt like, ‘I need to be back here.’
"It was hard watching, especially at the stadium. When it’s on the TV I don’t really have much time with my three boys running round but at the stadium it was hard, I just wanted to be out on the pitch.
"It just made me go back to the Ospreys and work hard and keep my head down and keep my focus. All I could do was play well for the Ospreys.
"Squads get picked and you get that initial disappointment but it’s what you do then. You can either let your head stay down and throw your toys out of the pram and not do anything, or you can go back to your club, work hard, put the training in, put the hours in when no one is looking and seek the rewards from it.
"I am certainly not one to throw my toys out of the pram, I enjoy working hard and it is a privilege and an honour to be back wearing this jersey."
Despite being in the latter part of his career Webb was always confident he would get the chance to wear the Wales number nine jersey again.
That ambition to wear the number nine jersey has always been there, I have never once thought about packing it in, and I've never been one to say it’s gone," he said.
"I know personally what I can do, I believe in myself and that is a big factor these days. I’ve got that belief in myself and on and off the field I work hard, I look after myself, I look after my body and I know I can compete with the best, never once thought I wouldn’t get back in here."
While Webb is delighted to be back in a red shirt he is under no doubt of the challenge Wales face against a resurgent Italy side in Rome on Saturday.
While there may have been a significant number of off field challenges to contend with Wales have been well off the pace and defeat in Rome will almost certainly consign them to their first Wooden Spoon since 2003.
Webb is confident his experience can aid Wales' quest to claim a first win this championship while he is also keen to get the best of a youthful back-division.
"For us we know it has been a tough campaign, every team can beat anyone on their day these days, we’ve shown improvement over the last couple of days, as the tournament is going on we are getting better and better," said the Ospreys star.
"Hopefully I can bring that level of experience when needed but I want to go out to play and enjoy myself as well.
"We've done our homework on Italy and we know they are going to want to play because they are one heck of a team at the moment. They are throwing the ball around from everywhere so we've got to be on red hot alert for that.
"We know their strengths and weaknesses. We want to try to encourage our young back-line, who are excellent with ball in hand.
"We need them to go out and express themselves. For me it's about encouraging that but also putting my foot on it when I need to. I'm very much looking forward to it."
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