By Chris Bailey, Sportsbeat

EUROPEAN Player of the Year and former Stroud Rugby Club star Nick Abendanon will take no part in the World Cup and according to club teammate Jonathan Davies, England’s loss is Wales’ gain.

England have stuck rigidly to their policy of not selecting anyone who plays their club rugby outside of the country, meaning both Abendanon and Toulon flanker Steffon Armitage – a former European Player of the Year – will miss out on a home World Cup.

But as one of his teammates at Clermont Auvergne, Wales centre Davies is in no doubt that full-back Abendanon, who moved from Bath last year, should be in England’s squad.

Abendanon starred in the European Rugby Champions Cup Final, audaciously chipping over the Toulon defence before dotting down – though it was not enough to clinch the title for Clermont.

Davies himself will not appear at the World Cup after sustaining a serious knee injury in May but he admits Wales stand more chance of beating England in the group stages with Abendanon in front of the TV rather than on it. “Before going out to France, Nick had been one Bath's players player of the season three years previous, and you don't get that for being an average player,” said Davies.

“I always respect that he was outstanding last year and he was voted our players’ player, he has so much time on the ball and with what he could create he was such a threat.

“It's such a shame that he won't be able to show what he can do at the World Cup but as a Welshman I'm quite glad because he is a threat.

“I think he would have had a shot (if he were Welsh), his season was pretty special and he was voted best player in Europe, so for him not to play international rugby is a shame.”

Land Rover are a Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2015 and – along with recruiting all 96 official mascots for Rugby World Cup 2015 as part of its We Deal In Real campaign – the Trophy Tour will travel through the UK and Ireland before arriving at Twickenham Stadium on 18 September ahead of the opening ceremony.

The 100-day journey is engaging fans at over 100 grassroots and elite rugby clubs, and give them the opportunity to get a close-up view of the Webb Ellis Cup and build unforgettable memories as part of their own Rugby World Cup 2015 story.

Wales themselves have never lifted the World Cup and first must overcome a group that not only contains England but Australia.

Beating at least one of the two teams will be vital to their hopes and in order to shock England, Davies believes their foundations must be built on a traditionally robust defence.

“When teams come up against Wales they don't tend to play that much rugby,” Davies added.

“If you look back at the second half against England this year they kicked a lot of ball, and traditionally our defence is very good. Teams don't want to take that on as such and they were putting pressure on us through the air, and we created errors and gave them easy opportunities.

“In the first half against we were very good and took a lead into half time, and to be fair to England they came back at us fair and square.

“The boys will remember that and going to Twickenham is a very difficult place to go and win, you've got to make sure everything goes right on the day.

“When we won Grand Slams and Championships in the past it was our defence that was the key factor in negating the threat the teams have. To do well in the World Cup that has to be the same and (defence coach) Shaun Edwards will be working them incredibly hard, he puts pressure on us and that brings the best out of us.

“The boys will take a lot of confidence being underdogs, that spirit drives them on, and the whole atmosphere will be amazing to be a part of. They won't worry too much about where it is.

“We won the Triple Crown there in 2012 and though the Millennium is a very special place, when you win at Twickenham that’s not too bad as well – I'm sure that we can repeat that.”

Jonathan Davies is a Land Rover ambassador. Land Rover is a Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2015 and is recruiting all 96 official mascots for the tournament as part of its ‘We Deal In Real’ campaign. Follow @LandRoverRugby #WeDealInReal