Owen keeps fingers crossed

Don’t expect Wales forward Michael Owen to walk under any ladders this week after being named to start his first international in six months. In fact the big Dragons lock is likely to run a mile at the sight of a black cat such has been his cursed luck over the past year.
 
Owen has been jinxed ever since becoming the 1,000th Welsh international when he made his debut against South Africa two years ago. Damaged knee ligaments ruled him out of last summer’s tour Down Under before back trouble wrecked his Rugby World Cup dream just days before the squad returned to Australia.
 
Both set backs came after being named in the original squad so he could be forgiven for wrapping himself in cotton wool until Sunday’s RBS Six Nations clash in Cardiff.

“I’ll be looking out everywhere for any blacks cats and I definitely won’t be walking under any ladders,” quipped Owen. “All I am thinking about now is getting out there on Sunday so fingers crossed all goes well.

“It’s fantastic to start after missing the tour and the Rugby World Cup. My main aim this season was to get back playing regularly and then hopefully force my way back in and play some part in the RBS Six Nations.

“Missing the Rugby World Cup was a massive disappointment. It was something I had been looking to for about five years and I had worked really hard to get into the squad only to have it taken away at the last minute. The week after that was extremely hard but as soon as I started my rehab after the operation I had something to focus on.

“I was obviously envious of the rest of the boys at the Rugby World Cup but it was great to see them do well and I could almost enjoy the tournament as a fan which is something you don’t often get a chance to do these days.

“It will back to the serious stuff on Sunday. France are quality and we will really have to play weel if we are going to get any sort of result.”