LOCK Dominic Day says he owes his unexpected chance with Wales to his move over the border to Bath, writes Chris Kirwan.

The 29-year-old from Pembrokeshire will make his Test debut against Ireland at the Millennium Stadium, a feat that looked highly unlikely when he headed over the Severn Bridge from the Scarlets in 2012.

But Day has proved to be a huge hit at the Rec where he battles for starts with captain Stuart Hooper, England international Dave Attwood and unsung hero Matt Garvey.

The Wales management are keen to stop the player drain over to the Aviva Premiership yet the short journey east has turned an injury-plagued lock into a Test forward.

"The move gave me the kick-start that I needed," admitted Day. "I had gone stale and that was nobody's fault but my own.

"It was good to have a change of environment and it's a quality set-up with world class players.

"It's really helped me push my game along. I knew that I couldn't just go there and go through the motions. I have pushed myself hard and it has paid dividends."

A cynic would say that Warren Gatland is merely capping Day to tie him to Wales given that the England-qualified lock is up against Alun Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris, Jake Ball and Bradley Davies in one of the most competitive areas of the squad.

The Wales boss said things have got a bit tasty as preparations intensify for the World Cup with the likes of Day determined to put the seasoned campaigners under pressure.

He said: "Boys have really come in and tried to push. It's got fiery and heated but that's what the coaches want, they don't want us going through the motions.

"These camps have been about pushing each other and that will go through to the World Cup.

"You want to make the cut next week and then the final one for the World Cup but you can't think about it too much.

"You just have to go out there on Saturday and give everything. We've got nothing to lose, there is pressure but we can express ourselves."

He continued: "Guys like Alun Wyn, Brad and Charteris have been great, talking me through lineouts and phase play but as soon you go up against each other it's competition and it's physical.

"That's where we want to be – help each other off the pitch but no holds barred on it."