Wales ready to turn to the juggernaut they've been watching for years after he swapped positions

It feels like Dewi Lake has been destined to become a Wales international from the moment murmurs of his potential began to circulate.

Those watching on will remember him struggling to hold back the tears after the Wales under-20s side he captained had just beaten New Zealand at the Junior World Championships.

His performance that day was superb, made even more so by the fact that he had been converted to hooker from the back-row less than 12 months before.

Five months after that famous win, he received an unofficial call-up to train with the Wales senior squad for a one-off match against the Barbarians, Wayne Pivac's first in charge.

He was also called up to the 2020 Six Nations side but never used.

Regardless, it was clear that Pivac had high hopes for the Bridgend boy - he has been earmarked as a potential star of the next World Cup - it culminated in a debut last weekend against Ireland.

Were it not for injuries, Lake would likely have made his debut long before but 2021 was a frustrating year for the now 22-year-old, who was sidelined with ankle trouble.

It meant he spent most of the year rehabilitating with also-injured Lions George North and Dan Lydiate at the Ospreys.

"It was a bit of a strange one. It’s tough being injured because you want to be playing rugby on the pitch," said Lake.

"But it was a year of learning. It gave me a lot of time to develop things that I wouldn’t have been able to work on had I been on the pitch and in training.

"Being with George and Lyds, two Lions internationals and massive names in the game, taught me a lot in terms of dealing with disappointment, getting back to fitness.

"I couldn’t have asked for two better blokes to be in the injury club with. The S&C, the physios who put the