Wales prop Paul James has expressed his excitement ahead of his side's clash with Scotland on Saturday.
The Bath forward has been called up to the squad to replace Gethin Jenkins as the Welsh look to keep their Six Nations hopes alive with a win at Murrayfield.
The 30-year-old believes that his move from Ospreys to the Premiership outfit a year ago has helped his international career and makes him a contender for the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia in the summer.
"I am enjoying my rugby. I feel like I have made a good impact every time I've come on in games, and I am just looking forward to having a start," said James. "I think playing in the Premiership is a bit closer to international rugby in its intensity. I think that has improved my game, and it is starting to show a bit.
"I wouldn't say it is just playing in the Premiership. It was also the fact I played for the Ospreys for 10 years, you are at one club for so long and maybe you get a little stale. I suppose going to Bath I was new there, but so were all the coaching staff. The slate was clean and it was just about training hard and waiting for your opportunity.
"Touch wood, it's gone well so far. I've settled in nicely, got on with the boys and formed a nice partnership with Davey Wilson and Rob Webber, and Mearsy (Lee Mears) before he called it a day. It's just a more physical league to play in the Premiership. Then when you move to international rugby again the standards step up, the physicality steps up, but Premiership rugby is just that one stop closer."
Wales travel to Murrayfield to face Scotland on Saturday.
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