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Jonathan Davies: Recovery so far is the best I could have hoped for

Sky Sports columnist Jonathan Davies says his recovery from surgery so far has been the best he could have hoped for.

The operation is done and I’m pleased to say that it was a success. I’m still a little bit stiff from it but the pain is starting to subside now and I’m able to get around a bit which is encouraging.

I travelled to London on Monday last week and had a bit of a catch up with my mum and sister during the day. Tuesday I went under the knife and by lunchtime on Wednesday I was in a car back to Wales. It’s amazing how much things have changed since my last ACL injury!

One thing that hasn’t changed though, is how well I get treated when I’m home with my parents. My mum has been running around constantly and my poor dad had to man the barbecue himself on Fathers’ Day. Believe me when I say I’m in good hands over here.

It’s always going to be difficult to win a big game like that when you lose star players like Wesley Fofana and Noa Nakaitaci in the build up to it.
Jonathan Davies on the Top 14 final

The only homework that I’ve been given by the doctor is to get the swelling down, and for that I use a machine that applies pressure and cold water to the knee. It appears to be doing the job and has allowed me a bit of movement which is the next part of my rehab.

I’m still putting my leg in the air plenty. Getting this process right is important to me, so I’m not rushing into anything. That said it’s been the best recovery I could have hoped for so far.

Delivered

I was at a wedding when Clermont played in the Top 14 final so I didn’t get to watch it live but I spoke to a few of the boys afterwards and obviously they were very cut up. I watched a replay of the game and it seemed like we gave away a fair amount of penalties which is always going to hurt you, especially when it’s a guy like Morne Steyn calling for the kicking tee every time.

It’s too easy to sit on a couch with your leg in the air and judge what could and should have been done so I won’t get into it too much but I will say it’s always going to be difficult to win a big game like that when you lose star players like Wesley Fofana and Noa Nakaitaci in the build up to it. They're both great players that can create opportunities from scraps.

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Watch highlights of the Top 14 final between Clermont and Stade Francais from the Stade de France.

Credit to Stade Francais though, not just for the win but also for the way they’ve played their rugby this year. It’s been a pleasure to watch and they are deserving winners.

When I arrived at Clermont last year we sat down as a squad at the beginning of the season and identified the fact that we wanted to compete in the finals of the Champions Cup and the Top 14, so there is a lot to be taken from the fact that we delivered on those goals.

There were quite a few must-win games thrown in there during the season and the guys ensured we kept marching on every time. Obviously the goal was also to have some silverware at the end of those respective 80 minutes but all we can do is learn from the season and go one better next year.

Withdrawal

I felt for the boys last week because when I played in the Champions Cup final it was tough to swallow the loss, but at least we still had the Top 14 to play for so we could dust ourselves off and go again. This time there’s nothing until next season so it’s a tough one to process.
Stade Francais centre Jonathan Danty (r) passes the ball past Clermont's full-back Nick Abendanon
Image: Jonathan Danty (r) passes the ball past Nick Abendanon in the Top 14 final

Sky did a highlights package of the Top 14 season and at the end they showed the Stade Francais celebrations in their dressing room after the final and then showed a clip of the Clermont boys leaving, dejected. If you want a window into the life of professional sport, that’s it.

Speaking of next season I read about Dave Strettle withdrawing himself from England’s World Cup squad in order to join Clermont sooner. I haven’t spoken to him so I don’t know any of the background around the decision but from a selfish point of view it’s great that we will be benefiting from his talent immediately.

He’s going to make a big impact here in France I’m sure and I’m looking forward to having him on the same side of the half-way line as me when I eventually get back on the pitch.

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