Welsh rugby icon Shane Williams has told promising youngsters Jac Morgan and Keiran Williams to "respectfully put two fingers up to the coaches" after their shock omissions from the Wales squad.
Head coach Wayne Pivac revealed his squad for summer Tests against Canada and Argentina yesterday with Morgan and Williams nowhere to be seen.
Openside Morgan, a former Wales under-20s captain, has been earning rave reviews all season, finishing joint top of the Guinness PRO14 turnover charts.
Ospreys centre Williams, meanwhile, has enjoyed a breakthrough season with his gainline-busting runs earning him comparisons to Welsh great Scott Gibbs.
But both were overlooked and will have to wait a little longer for their debuts.
87-cap winger Williams knows how it feels to have doubters, having to overcome persistent question marks over his size early in his career.
He would go on to make a mockery of the critics, becoming Wales’ record try-scorer.
On Pivac’s squad, Williams said: “There are a lot of contentious decisions and people will say ‘why isn’t this guy in?’
“Look in the back row, a boy local to me, Jac Morgan, who has been playing well for the Scarlets hasn’t made it but he’s still young.
“We’ve got good back-rowers pushing for a place and we’ve got experienced players who have hit form again in Aaron Wainwright, Ross Moriarty and Josh Turnbull has been fantastic for the Blues.
“It is very difficult to leave an experienced player like that out but it means the likes of Jac Morgan don’t get in.
“I had my fingers crossed for Keiran Williams but that is international rugby.
“They’ll have their opportunities, I’m sure. Pivac has picked a team that he believes will suit the style of rugby he wants to play and these youngsters will get an opportunity down the line.
“That’s as long as they don’t throw their toys out of the pram and they wait for their opportunity.
“I’m sure they’ll do the business when they’re called upon. It’s exciting.”
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He added: “My advice would be similar to what Warren Gatland said about Kyle Sinckler, which is: ‘Stick the two fingers up to me and prove that you deserved to get in’.
“That’s what I had to do.
“I came on the scene pretty late, I was 22 when I had my first international cap but then I got dropped from the team and realised how hard it was.
“What these players need to do now is say: ‘Look, I’m not in yet but I just need to keep working hard’.
“Jac Morgan will go to the Ospreys now and learn from Justin Tipuric and become a better player. It’s about playing their way into the team.
“The same goes for Keiran Williams and Owen Watkin as well, he has to work hard to get back into the side. Everyone has got their different stories.
“The only thing you can do, respectfully, is stick two fingers up to the coaches and say: ‘I should be playing, I’m still playing well for my club, I think I’m better than the player who has got that jersey at the moment’.
“The only way you can do that is to train well and play well.
“I know Jac, he is that kind of player. He’s come a long way in a short space of time and is already being looked at as an international player.
“His time will come and the same goes for the other boys as well.”
Pivac’s side will assemble at their Vale Resort training base in just under two weeks time to begin their preparations.
Experienced centre Jonathan Davies will captain the side in Alun Wyn Jones’ absence and there are five uncapped players in Taine Basham, Ben Carter, Tom Rogers, Ben Thomas, Gareth Thomas.
“It’s a nice, mixed squad with some new caps and experience coming back into the team,” said Williams.
“You need that sometimes when you lose players like Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric.
“Jonathan Davies is captaining the team and he’s one of the best centres in world rugby when he’s fit.
“It’s a nice blend.”
*Shane Williams is an ambassador for Welsh Fire and The Hundred - a new cricket competition coming to Cardiff this summer. For more information go to www.thehundred.com *
