Dan Lydiate will draw a line under a year of misery when he returns to playing action for the Ospreys in their United Rugby Championship clash with Leinster in Dublin on Saturday.
It’s just over 12 months since the teak-hard flanker injured knee ligaments playing for Wales against Ireland in the Six Nations. Speaking about the injury later, Lydiate reckoned the affected knee had been ‘obliterated’.
There were fears among some that the then 33-year-old might decide to call it a day.
Instead, one of Welsh rugby’s most resilient characters embarked on a long-haul recovery programme that reaches its good-news stage with his appearance among the replacements for the Ospreys in the Irish capital.
It has taken immense strength of character for Lydiate to make it back, with the 65-cap Wales international battling through uncertainty and the frustration of working hard without playing.
"There’s been a huge amount of work put in and a lot of mental strength required,” acknowledged Ospreys head coach Toby Booth.
“Dan has been out for a long time. We had the choice of either starting with him this weekend or letting him come home with the wind in his sail.
“We’ve chosen the latter course. Dan will have an impact because of the player that he is and the leader that he is.”
Booth continued: “Any player who’s out long term requires a heck of a lot of support and a very co-ordinated programme of rehab, mentally and physically.
“We have those structures in place. When you have someone of the ability of Dan Lydiate, getting him back is really important for the group."
Lydiate had been operating at his very best prior to his injury, earning a Wales recall on the strength of his performances at regional level, with the former Dragon piling up multiple tackles in every game.
He had been Six Nations player of the tournament in 2012 but his form in the early part of last season surpassed even what he'd produced back then.
Being injured so early upon his Wales return was a huge blow, but he finally gets back on a rugby pitch again this weekend.
Another Wales international returning after a significant injury is second-row Bradley Davies. He goes straight into the starting line-up.
Morgan Morris features at No. 8 in a back row that also includes Ethan Roots and Harri Deaves, with Rhys Webb leading the side from scrum-half.
The Ospreys defeated Leinster in Dublin last term but are bracing themselves for a major challenge.
Booth said: “Everyone knows that the market leaders or teams at the top of the tree, like Leinster, have a very clear identity about what they do and don’t change anything they do for anyone.
“You play Leinster and you know what you are going to get. They are going to play fast, with high skill, try and dominate you at the breakdown and get on top of you at the set-piece.
“We have to back ourselves and do what we need to do, and if we can do that we will be competitive. If we don’t, then we won’t.
“We know what the challenge is and it’s no different to every other week, but against Leinster it’s magnified.”
Leinster: Jimmy O'Brien; Jordan Larmour, Jamie Osborne, Harry Byrne, Dave Kearney; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath (capt); Cian Healy, James Tracy, Michael Ala'alatoa; Ross Molony, Ryan Baird; Martin Moloney, Scott Penny, Max Deegan.
Replacements: Seán Cronin, Peter Dooley (97), Thomas Clarkson, Jack Dunne, Rhys Ruddock, Nick McCarthy, Rory O'Loughlin, James Lowe.
Ospreys : Dan Evans; Keelan Giles, Michael Collins, Keiran Williams, Luke Morgan; . Stephen Myler, Rhys Webb (capt); Nicky Smith, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, Bradley Davies, Will Griffiths, Ethan Roots, Harri Deaves, Morgan Morris.
Replacements: Elvis Taione, Rhodri Jones, Rhys Henry, Lloyd Ashley, Dan Lydiate, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Tiaan Thomas Wheeler.
