WHEN Andy Powell decided to take an early-morning ride in a golf buggy after Wales had beaten Scotland last February, there were those who said his Wales career could be over.
Having made one of the most sensational international debuts ever against South Africa in November 2008 and then enjoyed a meteoric rise to the Lions squad for the tour to South Africa last year, Powell had been one of the unqualified success stories of Warren Gatland’s tenure.
So, could we really be about to see all that fizzle out after less than two years in the big time?
Granted, the barnstorming runs that characterised the former Newport powerhouse’s unforgettable debut against the Boks, when he was an unknown quantity on the Test scene, had become known to opponents and subsequently far better policed.
But Powell’s influence as a ball-carrier with immense power and quick leg speed still made him a valuable commodity, certainly too valuable to be lost because of one moment of ill-judged tomfoolery.
Not only that, his presence in and around the squad in the shape of his larger-than-life character meant the benefits extended beyond the pitch.
Now it seems those assets have not been forgotten by Gatland.
Powell reportedly took his exclusion from the Wales squad halfway through the Six Nations and the later drink-driving ban he was handed by Cardiff magistrates pretty hard.
And, for whatever reason, not least a series of niggling injuries, his impact at the Blues in the latter third of the campaign has been severely curtailed.
Rumours he may be seeking a move to rugby league to join former team-mate Gareth Thomas at the Crusaders have been another distraction, even if they have been repeatedly dismissed by Blues coach Dai Young, who refuses to write off his somewhat wayward campaigner.
Similarly, it appears the patience threshold with Powell in the international set up extends far.
Powell remains on Gatland’s radar – to the extent that a place on the summer tour to New Zealand, says the Kiwi coach, is now a distinct possibility.
“We will have to see what his fitness is like,” said Gatland.
“But he has served his time and done his punishment and, if we want to include him, we will.”
Powell’s first chance to pull on the Wales jersey again will be against South Africa, the reigning world champions, on Saturday, June 5.
Though, whether he will make that is highly debatable given the Blues confirmed on Friday that the calf problem he sustained in the match against the Dragons at Rodney Parade last weekend would need two or three weeks more rest.
But Wales then fly out to New Zealand for a two-Test series against Graham Henry’s All Blacks on June 19 and 26, and, given Gatland is sure to want to rest players, a place on the plane to the land of the long white cloud should not be discounted .
Saying that, the New Zealander seems aware Powell may need an arm around his shoulder in the coming months.
“I think psychologically he has suffered quite a bit because of all that (the golf buggy saga),” said Gatland.
“He has struggled with the Blues, but when he comes to us, it’s a shorter time period and there is also hype around Wales.
“The ban because of the buggy affair has clearly had an impact on him and then he hasn’t played due to injuries.
“The Crusaders speculation hasn’t helped and had an impact as well.”
The league speculation snowballed after respected Crusaders coach Brian Noble admitted Powell is a player he admires and one he believes would be a smash hit in the 13-man code.
Former Wales captain Thomas, who switched codes from the Blues to the Crusaders at the end of February, has gone on the record as saying it is a move Powell should strongly consider making.
But Gatland has a different view altogether.
The ex-Wasps coach admits he cannot understand why a player in Powell’s position would want to follow Thomas’ example and leave the union game at a time when there is so much to be achieved in the near future.
Gatland added: “I spoke to Andy the other day and told him to get his head down and to keep training hard.
“He was playing well against the Dragons before he picked up the injury.
“I told him that he was important to us over the next 18 months.
“I advised him to get to the World Cup injury-free and playing well and then after that if he wanted to go to rugby league then go and do whatever he wanted.
“I just cannot understand why he would want to leave ahead of a potential massive 18 months for him
“The profile of playing in the games we are playing ahead of the World Cup and then the cup in New Zealand is huge.
“I don’t know why he would want to swap that for playing rugby league with the Crusaders in Wrexham.”
Powell may not be a new face considered for Gatland’s 27-man squad to face the Boks and the All Blacks, but there could well be a few who do fall into that bracket.
Gatland is expected to name his squad on Sunday, May 16, and Tavis Knoyle, the Scarlets teenage scrum-half, is one in particular who is being viewed as a possible deputy for Lions No 9 Mike Phillips.
“Tavis has a good kicking and passing game,” said Gatland.
“He doesn’t mind the physical stuff and we have been really impressed with him.”
Yet Knoyle is far from the only one.
The likes of Dragons trio, wing Will Harries, prop Hugh Gustafson and flanker Gavin Thomas, along with Scarlets wing Andy Fenby and fly-half Rhys Priestland, are other names being mentioned in dispatches as possible tourists.
