The Ospreys are ready to give youth a fling in the new rugby season, with coach Allen Clarke pondering giving opportunities to the youngsters from the region who performed so well for Wales in the recent World Rugby U20s Championship.
“I said I would give young players chances last season and I was as good as my word,” said Clarke.
“It will be the same in the coming campaign.
“I don’t look at the age of a player. I look at how he’s performing in game situations and in training.
“Anyone who stands out in those respects will be rewarded.”
Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, Cai Evans, Harri Morgan and Dewi Lake were among those who earned plaudits for their efforts with Wales U20s in Argentina.
Others who have signed first professional deals this summer include Will Griffiths, Morgan Morris and Kieran Williams.
All who are fit can expect to feature in next month’s friendly against Hartpury at The Gnoll.
It would be a big ask to throw too many youngsters into the first four rounds of Guinness PRO14 games that follow, against Ulster, Leinster and Munster on the road and Benetton in Swansea — a brutal start to a season if ever there was one — but if someone does put his hand up he might just get a chance, L-plates or no L-plates, with a battery of senior players away on World Cup duty.
Here’s the inside track on the youngsters concerned...
TIAAN THOMAS-WHEELER
He had a rock-solid campaign at the World Rugby U20s Championship, emerging as one of the top tacklers.
TTW put in 62 hits and let few opponents past.
He also scored the decisive try when Wales defeated New Zealand and ran good lines throughout the campaign, using his pace and strength to take him over the gain-line.
The 6ft 3in, 15st 8lb player figured seven times for the Ospreys last season and will be looking to build on that experience.
DEWI LAKE
It’s fair to say this chap’s efforts in South America excited a lot of people.
Lake carried strongly, tackled solidly and turned over opposition ball regularly.
But, importantly, he needs to tighten up his set-piece game if he is to emerge sooner rather than later.
“Of course there are areas for Dewi to work on,” said Clarke.
“But he is a young player with potential.
“What I like about him is he has a hooker’s attitude. It’s something that is going to serve him well in the game.
“It’s going to be good competition in that position in the coming season, with Sam Parry, Scott Otten, Ifan Phillips and Dewi in the mix.”
The probability is the vote will go to the most reliable set-piece operator, as it did last term when Scott Baldwin reasserted himself as first choice. “A hooker has to be certain of his scrum and line-out,” said Clarke. “Everything else is a bonus.”
CAI EVANS
Sam Davies’ departure to the Dragons and Gareth Anscombe’s World Cup commitments could see Evans given more opportunities in the season ahead.
Luke Price is likely to start the season above him, but in his understated way, Evans impressed more than a few observers during the U20s championship.
He doesn’t come with too many frills.
But he propels the ball miles with the boot, can execute a game-plan and has a calm temperament.
“Cai has a monster kicking game,” said Clarke.
“That’s a decent starting point.
“He is another player with plenty to offer and there could be chances for him.”
HARRI MORGAN
Anyone who saw the Maesteg product play for Wales U20s against Argentina last month would have been convinced they were watching the next big thing in Welsh rugby.
Now Morgan needs to transfer that kind of performance into the senior game.
That he has potential isn’t in doubt. He makes breaks, buzzes around the field, has an eye for a gap, scores tries and doesn’t give up.
But he needs to show he can handle the physical challenge of regional rugby.
It shouldn’t be beyond him.
WILL GRIFFITHS
If this lad is half as good as his admirers say he is, he will go a long way.
“I don’t want to gloss it up, but he has all the attributes that you’d want a future Welsh captain to have," said former Swansea coach Richard Lancaster.
“Even at the tender age of 20 he looks good enough to be an Ospreys regular.”
Lancaster even drew a bold comparison with a young Alun Wyn Jones, saying: “Will is in that mould.
“He is a leader who points the way. He just needs to mature, as any kid would, and spend time in the game.
“He could become something special.”
It might take time and Griffiths might need to develop physically for his position.
But it’s looking promising.
Watch this space.
MORGAN MORRIS
The 20-year-old back rower was named the Ospreys’ elite youth payer of the year for 2018-19 and he led the region’s development XV during their Celtic Cup campaign.
He also started in the Guinness PRO14 for the first time and made his bow in European rugby.
Morris came through the ranks via Gowerton School and Penclawdd RFC, representing Ospreys West at under-16s before heading east to study at Hartpury College. Returning home to Swansea two years ago, he wore the white of his hometown club in the Premiership, winning international recognition with Wales Under-20s.
He had a stellar campaign for Swansea in the campaign that’s just finished, ending it by being named players’ player of the year.
The Ospreys like his attitude and have high hopes he will come through.
KIERAN WILLIAMS
Injuries have hammered the young centre, but he’s another who is well thought of, underlined by the Ospreys granting him a first professional deal.
Is he too small to make a mark at inside centre in senior rugby?
Or can he be developed?
He has the right attitude, is nuggety, makes his tackles, crosses the gain-line and achieves turnovers. But can he do it in senior rugby?
“We won’t really know how good he is until he has had a run of opportunities at regional level,” said ex-Neath coach Gareth Llewellyn this week.
“But he’s ticked all the boxes in the Welsh Premiership.”
Clarke is looking to him to stay fit and put a run of games together. If he can do that, says the coach, “we’ll see his undoubted potential come to the fore over the next two seasons”.
