The Wales U20s international has long been tipped for a bright future at Test level
Wales interim head coach Matt Sherratt has revealed why Morgan Morse has not been included in the touring squad for Japan, despite his insistence he’s going to be “a hell of a player”.
The uncapped Ospreys No. 8 was seen as one of the likeliest new faces in Wales’ squad for the summer, given his performances for both club and Wales’ age-grade sides in recent seasons. However, while Sherratt opted to name six uncapped players in his 33-man squad for the two-Test tour, the 20-year-old was not one of them.
Morse has long been tipped for a bright future on the international stage, having won 24 caps for Wales U20s.
Japan looked like the perfect environment to give the young back-row a chance, given Wales tours in Lions years have usually been reserved for developing players. Indeed, WRU boartd member and TV pundit Jamie Roberts recently said Morse’s time had come, insisting he should be in the squad.
However, with just Jac Morgan on the British and Irish Lions in terms of Wales’ back-row options – and Wales currently in the midst of a record 17-Test losing run – Sherratt has decided to stick with the experience of No. 8s Taulupe Faletau and Aaron Wainwright in his squad. You can read the Wales squad in full here.
“On the Morgan Morse one, I actually think he’s going to be a hell of a player,” explained Sherratt.
“He’s got power, he’s quick and he’s got a point of difference.
“In normal circumstances, he may be a player that comes on the plane. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
“I just feel he’s really an out-and-out No. 8. And with Toby Faletau and Aaron Wainwright coming, is it time really, with the position Wales are in, to be gambling with that?
“I’m sure in six months time, Morgan Morse will have an experience.
“But, at the moment, Faletau and Wainwright have 150 caps between them and we need that experience.”
In terms of finding experience in his squad, Sherratt insisted it was one of the most important parts of picking his 33-man squad.
Six Nations captain Morgan is with the Lions, while another former Wales captain, Dafydd Jenkins, is missing the tour to have surgery.
However, Sherratt is satisfied there are enough leaders in this squad as they prepare to take on Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms.
“We thought about that when we selected,” he added. “Dewi (Lake) and Gareth (Thomas) have captained the Ospreys, Liam (Belcher) has captains Cardiff, Ben Carter has captained the Dragons and Josh Macleod captains the Scarlets.
“Around the squad, they’re not all experienced at international level, but they’ve got a voice and they’ve got an ear of the group. It’s a pretty even spread from the regions.
“Between the squad, there’s enough experience there. That was genuinely a big reason in terms of the selection, trying to get some experienced lads on the tour.”
