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Even before George North collapsed untouched in a heap at Franklin's Gardens last Sunday, suffering a sprain to his posterior cruciate ligament which ruled him out of the upcoming autumn internationals, there were many calling for in-form Scarlets wing Steff Evans to start for Wales against Australia on November 11.

However, now the unfortunate Northampton Saints star will play no part for his country this autumn, Evans has gone from being a player who arguably should start to one who most probably will.

His blistering form will surely be rewarded with a starting berth - and it's hard to argue against that when you just glance at the Guinness PRO14 statistics.

More than the numbers suggest

Evans tops the charts in try assists, metres gained, clean breaks, defenders beaten and offloads, while he also features near the top of the tries scored list.

By looking at just the numbers, Evans is a phenomenon at regional level. And yet there's more to his game than just the stats suggest.

While his finishing ability and knack of setting up tries is well-known to anyone who happens to catch a Scarlets match on the box or even watch his stunning highlights video below, he does plenty more than just finish.

And it is those things that make up his all-round game and mark him out as someone who could take the step up from the domestic game and stalk the wing for Wales for years to come.

Support lines

Take the support lines he runs. Evans may not be as quick as someone like Ashton Hewitt or Keelan Giles, but the way he comes off his wing and pops up at the right time ensures he is always in try-scoring positions.

In the Scarlets' opening day win over the Southern Kings, for example, Evans showed typical finisher's instinct to score the final try of the day - identifying the possibility of a break from a turnover and capitalising.

Look at our graphics which help analyse his play.

As soon as Aaron Shingler has stolen the ball from the South African side, Evans is on the move, running towards the breakdown to offer support.

(Image: BBC)

But when it becomes clear that there is a chance of a half-break for James Davies, Evans changes his line - arcing towards the try-line in support of the two back-rowers.

(Image: BBC)

Having staggered his out-to-in run, he is able to hit full pace when he takes the ball from Shingler and has worked enough space to beat the chasing cover defence to score.

(Image: BBC)

Decision-making

Another example of his support work was during Gareth Davies' try against Leinster last season.

Such is the game-plan the Scarlets employ, Evans has licence to pop up anywhere in the line - in fact, he is almost expected to get heavily involved.

Taking the ball in midfield, he moves it on to Scott Williams, following the direction of his pass as the centre straightens up.

(Image: Eurosport)

Naturally, Evans is working his way back to his left-wing, getting ready to pop up at first or second-receiver if Williams is tackled.

But, Williams steps through the line on this occasion and Evans is, again, one of the quickest to react.

He arcs his run and is on hand for the offload from James Davies - who was on Williams' inside shoulder.

One of Evans' trademarks is taking the ball on an out-to-in line and, such is ability to change direction without breaking stride, drift back out towards the touchline to score.

This looks like such an occasion, with Evans heading infield as he takes the offload and only the full-back to beat.

But rather than run into a potential cul-de-sac with a Leinster winger working to cut down the space near the touchline, he runs straight at the full-back.

Now fully committed to Evans, the full-back is rendered motionless with Davies running a support line parallel to him - and it ends up being an easy fun-in for the scrum-half.

(Image: Eurosport)

Reading of the game

That would not be the last time Davies prospered from the magic of Evans, with his first try against the Ospreys being the result of banking on something special from the winger.

With Evans taking the ball deep and stationary in an unstructured play, it appears there is little on - but Davies clearly thinks differently.

Rather than follow the pass and set up for the next ruck, Davies runs a pre-emptive support line laterally.

(Image: S4C)

And he's right to do so, with Evans quick to identify the trio of forwards Bradley Davies, Dan Lydiate and Ma'afu Fia in the defensive line.

Stepping past the three forwards, Davies' risk pays off, with Evans drawing the full-back enough that the scrum-half cannot be caught even after stopping to collect the pass.

(Image: S4C)

Playmaker

The key to Davies' try is the vision of Evans and how he can read a defence.

In the defending champions' victory over Connacht, he produced a lovely offload to set up Rhys Patchell's try.

But if you rewind the tapes a little bit, you'll see that was not his only contribution to the score - with the wing running the play from first-receiver.

(Image: BBC)

He begins by communicating with his forwards and scrum-half Aled Davies - setting up a pod to carry and produce quick ball.

(Image: BBC)

As Davies gives a short pass to Jake Ball, Evans recognises an opportunity down the left wing and calls centre Jonathan Davies over from the right.

Notice that fly-half Patchell is in the second-receiver position outside Evans but there is no doubt about who is running this play.

It's testament to their game plan and Patchell that he is able to move out wide and adapt when the point of attack is changed.

(Image: BBC)

Having now worked a three-on-three opportunity, with Patchell holding one defender wide out of shot and the two circled defenders watching Evans with ball-in-hand, the space appears to be on the outside of the circled duo - who are stood extremely close together.

Just from looking at the screen shot above, you'd expect that there would be little way of Evans bisecting the circled defenders - with his best chance the space outside.

However, the late run of Davies causes the second defender to overcompensate, with the wing who was covering Patchell biting as well and stepping in, leaving a small gap for Evans to run at.

(Image: BBC)

Running at weak shoulders rather than bodies, Evans is able to keep his hands free and put Patchell over for a simple finish.

It's the perfect example of the rugby brain that Evans possesses - able to read a defence on the fly and figure out the best way of piercing it, either as a support runner or orchestrating it.

Big step up

In the past, Wales' wingers have, at times, been criticised for not getting involved enough - either sticking to their wing or just running occasional angles of the fly-half.

Yet Warren Gatland's sole victory over Australia as Wales coach was built upon an in-form winger who was capable of not just finishing, but creating tries as well.

When Wales ran out 21-18 winners over Australia back in 2008, it was based largely on the brilliance of Shane Williams.

Lee Byrne's pivotal try stemmed solely from Williams' ability to step into first-receiver, read the defence and execute a play.

Evans is not Shane Williams and it has yet to be seen whether he will be able to translate these facets of his game onto the Test stage.

But if Warren Gatland does turn to Evans when Wales welcome the Wallabies in a few weeks time, it's hard to imagine Evans will stick to his wing and wait for the opportunities to find him.

And, when he finds them as regularly as he does, why would you want him to?