Max Evans eager to clip wings of Ospreys in semi-final

EVERY coach in every sport searches for a performer with the 'X factor' and in Max Evans Glasgow's Sean Lineen has found one.

It is clearly genetic as the team benefited from the desire and skills within Sean and then Rory Lamont, and Lineen used that experience to grant Max the chance to follow his brother Thom into Scottish rugby and replace the Lamonts with two more potent attackers.

It is something that rugby union at the top level needs now more than ever, a player able to unlock the tightest of defences. Glasgow came through last week's final league match of the normal season with a high- scoring win over the Scarlets, without Evans, who was a late withdrawal having suffered a pinched nerve in his back on the morning of the match.

Nothing was risked to ensure he would be fully recovered this week and, as the Scotland centre spoke of his enthusiasm at returning for tomorrow night's Magners League semi-final against an Ospreys side with one of the most suffocating defences in the northern hemisphere, it was clear how much of an asset he can be.

"It was disappointing to miss out last week," Evans said. "I think it was a combination of weights, not being properly warmed up and a bad night's sleep. I possibly could have played had it been the semi-final, but I wanted to be right and I'm looking forward to being back now.

"There are not many teams you come across that do the blitz defence as well as the Ospreys do, and that's something I relish as a player. You feel you can give yourself a pat on the shoulder when you get through an Ospreys game with a win because their style of defence is very intimidating.

"But there are ways to attack it and get around it. Before every game you have a game-plan, and a laid-out pattern of play in your head that everyone buys into, and that's no different in this game; you have the plan up to the game and then play on instinct. But there is more of a mental challenge with the Ospreys.

"One of the other reasons I was disappointed not to be fit to play the Scarlets is that they are a team that can let you run at them with their drift defence, and as an outside back you love to play in a game like that. But against a blitz you have to change your calls."

The former Portugal-based professional golfer used an analogy from his former sport to further explain the different challenge he feels is posed by the blitz style of the Ospreys.

"I compare it to playing golf on a links course," said Evans. "The way you play in Portugal is completely different to how you tackle Royal Troon. You have to be creative (at Troon] and think of different ways to play, different shots, and that's kind of what it comes down to with the Ospreys. You've got to really challenge your individual skill and little chips, different moves off the cuff, that can isolate players flying up, is all part of it.

Evans added: "In training this week we've been running off-the-cuff moves that we haven't been running much this season, but will use a lot in this game. With the little chips and the moves I'm looking forward to executing it should be good."

Evans' eagerness to get out on to the Liberty Stadium pitch is evident. He is confident, full of enthusiasm, even when relaxed. There are aspects of his game that still need refining for the elder, 26-year-old Evans to become a consistent international performer, but hopefully that comes without any loss of the instinct that makes him stand apart from many in the game, and which sends the fear of death into opposite numbers.

He does have the experience now of playing at the top level, with 11 Test matches under his belt since he made his international debut against Canada in November 2008, and he admitted that the prospect of facing the likes of Mike Phillips, James Hook, Tommy Bowe, Shane Williams and Lee Byrne does recall the memory of the Scotland match with Wales that ended with his younger brother Thom in hospital with what could yet prove to be a career-ending injury and Scotland having let victory slip through their hands.

"The last time I played many of these guys was that Wales game and the feeling after that game will definitely be in the back of my mind, but I'll be using it as a positive going into this game; something to call upon to give myself a kick up the backside.

"Sean (Lineen] said at the beginning of the week that this was like an international and it does feel like that when you consider the players in each team. He told guys who haven't experienced that (international level] that this will be as close as they get to it until they do play international rugby, so there is a real buzz through the whole team."

The Ospreys are hopeful of attracting a crowd close to the Liberty's 20,520 capacity and have had Jerry Collins, Alun-Wyn Jones, Bowe and Jonathan Thomas helping to sell tickets this week. Asked if that could faze Glasgow, Evans just smiled.

"One of the greatest things this season was getting the crowds we got for the Edinburgh games at Firhill and Murrayfield," he added, "and that was good for some guys who hadn't experienced it before.

"We're taking a good number of supporters down I understand and we're really looking forward to the atmosphere there."