No doubting Thomas has call-up claim

WASPS flanker Thomas Young further strengthened his claim for a Wales call-up with an ‘outstanding’ display against Gloucester.

The 25-year-old backed-up his man-of-the-match display against Exeter Chiefs with another barnstorming performance at Kingsholm to help his side secure a 25-25 draw with Christian Wade’s late try and Jimmy Gopperth’s kick at the death.

His display, combined with Wales’ defeat to Ireland in the Six Nations and Warren Gatland’s post-match comments about calling up ‘new blood’ could pave the way for Young to add to the two Wales caps he earned last year against Tonga and Samoa.

Director of rugby Dai Young, capped 51 times by Wales, was full of praise for his son, as he and his fellow back-row colleagues continue to soften the blow of Nathan Hughes and James Haskell’s absence.

“It’s difficult for me to single him out but I thought he was outstanding in defence and attack,” said Young senior.

“He’s shown what a great support player he is, what a great attacking player but I think what he’s shown over the last couple of weeks is his work-rate. I think he’s enjoyed the added responsibility. With no Nathan and Hask, he’s probably played more than the other guys.”

The Six Nations takes a break this weekend with Wales next match falling on Sunday, March 11, when Italy are the visitors to the Principality Stadium.

Following Ireland’s 37-27 success in Dublin, Wales’ hopes of Six Nations glory disappeared leaving their final two games against the Italians and France open to experimentation.

Gatland said: “We’ve already spoken about needing to see some players in the squad and a game to see where they are at this level.

“Without making too many changes we will look to develop the squad.”

Wales may have suffered back-to-back Six Nations defeats, but their new-look flanker combination of Aaron Schingler and Josh Navidi is the biggest barrier preventing Young’s possible call-up.

While Gatland has been hammered with injuries for the tournament, he can still call upon British Lion Justin Tipuric as only a substitute. MUTTER the world ‘philosophy’ among football circles and eyes begin rolling.

Supporters have heard it all before. With every fresh managerial appointment, out pops the ‘style of play’ questions and, unsurprisingly, few respond with ‘I’ll be boring, pragmatic but get us results.’

It would be tantamount to a soft drink advertisement claiming to be flavourless and flat, but it will quench your thirst.

Those clubs whose ambitions lie somewhere between mid-table obscurity and the fear of relegation can lean on a change of philosophy as a statement ‘at least we’re trying to play the right way.’

It was former Coventry City manager Tony Mowbray, then boss at West Bromwich Albion, who said teams not competing at the top end of the table have a responsibility, a duty, to play football ‘in the right way’ as no tangible success is achievable.

The Baggies played attractive football that season – but were relegated. Style over substance it seemed.

What’s this got to do with rugby, I hear you ask?

Philosophy was a dirty word in sport for me.

Until I watched Wasps’ last four games against Ulster, Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester.

I’d heard about this famed Wasps attacking game plan.

On occasions I’d seen it first hand as a paying customer and on television.

But the true test of a philosophy is staying with it when the chips are down.

When it would be easier to abandon those principles to go in search of results. ‘Stick your big centre-half up front and hoof it up to him.’ When Danny Cipriani ghosted infield against Harlequins, with their extra man, to create one of six tries in a 44-22 win, I watched a free spirit playing in a boundary-less environment. To hell with the predicament, let’s play some rugby! The Ulster encounter was played out in driving rain, with Wasps playing for little more than pride, and they created four tries and secured a bonus point. While the scores didn’t flow against Exeter Chiefs, it wasn’t pragmatism that kept the score tight, more Exeter Chiefs’ approach to getting over the line and Wasps resolutely repelling them. Then to the soundtrack of partisan cries from the Kingsholm crowd, Wasps made a mockery of the situation.

Both the context of the build-up and the predicament of the match.

Chief architect to so much of their artistry, Danny Cipriani, failed to shake off his Achilles issue. Oh boy.

Man-of-the-moment Jack Willis needed another week to recover from his shoulder issue. Gulp.

Marcus Watson and Alex Rieder adding to a growing list of the club’s #TeamRecon club that is teetering on outnumbering the fit and healthy.

Joe Launchbury and Nathan Hughes away suffering misery at Murrayfield while the unselected James Haskell watched on.

Kyle Eastmond suspended, justifiably. Gaby Lovobalvu banned. Befuddling.

Trailing 18-6 to Gloucester and being lapped in a two-horse race, Wasps had every reason to roll over, or at best, limit their losses.

I’d already penned the introductory paragraph to my match report at halftime.

‘Wasps finally ran out of ‘Get Out of

Christian Wade scorched off on the diagonal in the way only Jason Robinson could on those early EA Sports rugby video games.