IT’S fair to assume that Sonny Bill Williams, Quade Cooper and Bryan Habana didn’t conduct any interviews in their local equivalent of Wetherspoons as they attempted to secure a place in their national squad for Rio.

But the setting didn’t matter, it was all about the message and sat opposite Sam Cross in the Picture House in Ebbw Vale it was clear that making the cut for the Olympics meant the world to the 23-year-old from Brynmawr.

It was May and the Wales international, a back row forward with Newport RFC in the 15-man game, had just been named in the extended squad for August’s Games.

While others munched their budget breakfasts, he spoke passionately about how this was just the first step – after earning the first selection he would give his all to make the cut.

"I'll give it everything over the next seven weeks – I don't want any regrets after this summer,” he said as he sat with a glass of water in front of him rather than a bacon bap given that a gruelling training schedule started the next week.

But while Cross has proved himself to be a star on the HSBC Sevens World Series circuit – 114 matches and named in the team of the tournament in Hong Kong last April – I had a nagging fear, one that wasn’t helped by an article in another Welsh media organisation.

“Who exactly are the unknown Welsh rugby players selected for the Team GB Olympics training squad?” they delightfully pondered.

Cross may be well known on the international sevens circuit but he wasn’t, and still isn’t, a big name while there was always the potential for him to be a victim of politics with the management keen to have a spread of nations to ensure a real Team GB.

Such fears were unfounded as it turned out with the Brynmawr man getting the nod along with just one fellow Welshman, James Davies after the flanker was tempted back to the 7s format where he first caught the eye.

Men’s coach Simon Amor called for just two Scots, with full international Mark Bennett the stand-out inclusion, while Haverfordwest’s Jaz Joyce is the sole woman who doesn’t hail from England.

It says a lot about the GB approach that Glasgow’s Bennett, who had a superb World Cup last year, and Scarlets openside Davies, a star performer in the Guinness Pro12 last season, are the big recruits.

While New Zealand have called on Sonny Bill, the Blitzboks plumped for Juan de Jongh, USA selected Saracens ace Chris Wyles and Fiji lured Leone Nakarawa, the Brits have gone with the tried and tested.

“I think Team GB have missed a massive opportunity because I think there were a number of players in the Aviva Premiership without even looking at the big super names that would have been fantastic,” said USA coach Mike Friday, formerly of England, to the Telegraph.

“Elliot Daly would have been unbelievable for Team GB. If they had got their house in order then I bet that George North would have been in there.”

As ever, the proof will be in the pudding.

If GB fail to make an impact then the names of Christian Wade, Alex Cuthbert and Stuart Hogg will probably be bandied around. If they are going for gold on August 11 then Amor and his players will be able to wear smug grins.

And whether it be Leicester, Connacht or Portugal, sport has hammered home an age-old adage about the whole being greater than the sum of all parts.

The Olympics means so much to these 7s players. For them it has always been about 2016, not the Lions in 2017 or even working towards Japan 2019.

I’d imagine that they have given precious thought to the Zika virus; their group with New Zealand, Kenya and Japan will have been all that’s on their minds.

Cross may not be a big name – he doesn’t yet have a Wikipedia page – but GB going with the sevens specialists means he may well be if he has a medal around his neck next month.

Then he might even get asked for an autograph in the Picture House.

South Wales Argus:

SUNDAY was treat in terms of sporting drama, and by all accounts events at The Open in Troon weren’t too bad either.

After an underwhelming series against Sri Lanka, we are one Test into what is shaping up to be a cracker between England and a hugely entertaining Pakistan side.

The opener was gripping with day four, what proved to be the last, providing the sort of entertainment to ensure several tasks remain on your to-do list while others are done in a slapdash manner when crammed into the tea break.

Alas, England’s generosity at the top of the order and then the key dismissal of Jonny Bairstow when chipping away at the target meant that things didn’t go right to the wire with the 6pm finish at least providing the chance to watch the conclusion of the Mickelson-Stenson shootout.

But it was a Test that had it all, played against the backdrop of redemption courtesy of the spot-fixing saga, and sets things up perfectly for Old Trafford on Friday.

I can still remember giving one of my brother’s Pakistan-supporting pals the silent treatment in the playground following the 1992 Cricket World Cup final. It was a childish act, although in mitigation I was a child.

There was no such gloom in my front room on Sunday after watching Mohammad Amir clean up Jake Ball to secure a 75-run victory; the passion, joy and desire shown by the affable tourists can only be good for the sport and the Test format.

Cricket, like rugby, doesn’t benefit from a wealth of nations that love it and self-interest often means that opportunities to grow the game are shunned.

So the team spirit and togetherness shown by Pakistan, who have not played a home Test since 2009 due to security issues, was wonderful to watch given their struggles post Lord’s in 2010 when Amir overstepped the mark.

If they were a rugby team then the traditional Pakistan would be Argentina, passionately blubbering at the anthem and then having the ability to play in dazzling bursts. Shoddy fielding one minute, lethal yorkers the next.

When they are hot they are scorching. The current crop aren’t quite as inconsistent as many predecessors – shown by a recent record that has put them within touching distance of first place in the world rankings – but they still are wonderfully emotional, sometimes going swiftly from the serene to the heated to the soundtrack of clattered stumps.

Pakistan celebrated victory as a team by doing five press-ups in front of the famous pavilion and then saluting the flag, a gesture to note their pre-tour army boot camp.

"It's never nice to lose at Lord's and see the opposition like they were at the end," said Alastair Cook. "We'll use that as motivation.”

They may have riled the England captain but with such exuberance on and off the field Pakistan are providing entertainment like only they can.