Southworth: I was blown away by Wales call-up

LAST Monday evening, a call from an unknown number popped up on Danny Southworth’s phone.

- BEN JAMES Reporter [e-mail]

“Usually I wouldn’t answer those,” admits the Cardiff loosehead.

“I don't know though, I guess something just told me to pick it up.”

It's just as well the 26-year-old did, with new Wales coach Steve Tandy being on the other end of the line.

“I was like ‘oh, you all right, mate?’

“It was an unexpected call, to be honest. I was fairly blown away by it. I'm just really excited to get in there now and and show what I'm about. I did not expect it whatsoever, but it was a nice surprise.”

Southworth, who joined Cardiff from Exeter at the start of last season, is one of four looseheads called into Tandy’s first squad ahead of the autumn.

One of the others, Rhys Carre, dominated headlines last week given the situation around the 25-cap rule. However, Southworth is worthy of recognition himself, with the uncapped prop having been a solid performer in the opening weeks of the season.

Rumour has it he was close to selection in the summer, only for a ban to scupper his hopes of touring Japan. But now, with Carre and Nicky Smith both being English-based and required to return to their clubs for the South Africa Test, the chances of Southworth ending the autumn with a maiden cap look good.

“It’s obviously been in the back of my mind,” he admitted. “I think I'll just take it week by week, to be honest, because I don’t want to stress myself out too much and think into the future.

“Anything can happen. I'll take it week by week and whatever happens, happens.”