Max Evans doesn’t have the same feelings as his team-mates about last year’s extraordinary match between Scotland and Wales in Cardiff, because his only concern was the condition of his brother Thom.
Max’s younger brother underwent surgery to his neck after a collision with Wales’ Lee Byrne could have left him paralysed but for the swift action of Scotland team doctor James Robson and other medical staff on the Millennium Stadium pitch, so the dramatic collapse of the Scots in the last ten minutes of the game is perhaps less acute for the Glasgow Warrior.
One year on, Max is back on the wing on Saturday against Wales at Murrayfield, where he finished in Cardiff that fateful, incident-packed day, while Thom is in LA taking acting classes and out on the town with lad’s mag favourite Kelly Brook on his arm.
“My brother is one of those guys who just happens to be in the right place at the right time,” said Max with just a hint of exasperation.
“I always say to him, how did you find yourself in position to do that, and it was like that with Kelly, he didn’t pursue her, he was just there at the right time to work his magic.Los Angeles”He was invited to come over and do some press stuff, but I spoke to him yesterday and he’s loving it in Los Angeles at the moment, so he’s staying there.
“He’s taking acting classes and I’ve no doubt he’ll succeed in whatever he decides to do he’s just trying to find out what that will be.”
Max added that Thom had watched Scotland’s opener against France at the weekend and had felt “unexpectedly hugely emotional.”
“He’s seen rugby games involving Scotland and watched me playing and got accustomed to the fact that he won’t be playing international rugby again, so it was unexpected for him to feel like that again,” continued Max.
“He thinks it was because it was the Six Nations again and that brought it all back a bit. I got a bit emotional as well when we were shown clips of games for motivation before the weekend and I saw Thom making a great run or scoring a try, and that brings it home again, but on the field I’ve grown used to him not being there.
“When I walk off after every rugby game I think how lucky I am. Anyone who has had a friend or colleague suffer an injury not even those not the severity of Thom’s I’m sure will feel the same. Every single game I’m thankful.”