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Beck: I can provide something different

Beck: I can provide something different

Ashley Beck reckons he can provide an alternative to the Wales power pairing of Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies.

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The Ospreys centre missed the Six Nations due to an ankle injury and watched on as the Roberts-Davies centre axis propelled Wales to the title.

Wales’ game has been based upon their centres and major strike-runners powering over the gain-line.

But Beck insists he will not change his game and believes his subtleties with ball in hand can provide something different.

“I have not come under pressure to change my game from anyone,” said Beck.

“I enjoy the way I play and the Ospreys are happy with me playing that way.

“It’s just about adapting when you need to. I’m sure if someone asked I’d be able to carry the ball as well.

“But people see me as something different and it’s just trying to do what you can for the team.

“If the coaches ask me to do something, I’ll try my best to do it and maybe get over that gain-line as well.

“It’s about offering something different but the key is to do what best suits the side.”

Beck had been chopping at Roberts’ and Davies’ heels ahead of his ankle injury and he admits his enforced lay-off was frustrating.

He’s likely to return to the international stage during the summer tour of Japan but the Aberavon-product sole focus right now is on the Ospreys RaboDirect PRO12 push.

“It was frustrating, coming as it did at the start of the year, when your New Year’s resolutions are starting to kick in,” admitted Beck.

“But you have to try to stay positive and come out of it wanting to play rugby – and I was dying to get back on the field.

“It’s been a stop-start season for me but injuries happen in rugby and it’s about how you come out of them at the other end.

“I’m not focusing on Japan at the minute. I’ve learned not to look too far ahead and it’s just about playing and trying to stay fit.

“I just want to do as well as I can for the Ospreys and make every minute count.

“It’s an important time of year, with three big games that will determine whether we push into the play-offs,” said Beck.

“So it’s important that we keep playing well. I’ve just been trying to get my hands on the ball a bit more and do a few things.

“The forwards have been great since coming back from the Six Nations, making it a lot easier for us as a back-line.

“It would be massive to defend our title. I don’t think anyone has won the Pro12 back-to-back, so that’s an incentive.

“We came from nowhere towards the end of last season and won out in Leinster after they’d won the Heineken Cup.”

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