Young: I’d relish going up against Wasps boys
FRESH from making his Six Nations debut, Wales openside Thomas Young can’t wait to do battle against his Wasps team-mates when England travel to Cardiff this Saturday.
Young has never appeared at the Principality Stadium before but after impressing during last weekend’s victory over Italy in Rome, the 26-yearold is keen for another crack in what is being billed as a Grand Slam decider.
Justin Tipuric will be hungry for a recall after being rested in Rome but Young told The Rugby
Paper: “It’s a massive game for both Wales and England and it’s something I’d love to be involved in. I’ve never played at the Principality before so that’s a big goal of mine, as well as representing my country.
“I loved being out there against Italy last week and I’d like to be out there again. I was really happy with how I played and enjoyed the environment.
“The competition in the Wales back row is massive, though, so I’ve just got to keep trying to impress the coaches in training and if I get another opportunity to play, I’ll try to put a marker down.
“You’ve just got to keep backing up week-to-week. Justin Tipuric is one of the best 7s in the world and quality in everything he does. He deserves to be where he is. But from my point of view the aim is to play as much as I can and do everything to show the coaches that I’m worthy of being there.”
A difficult season for injury-hit Wasps has not prevented Young from being one of the Premiership’s outstanding performers.
Despite the obstacles and constant speculation over teammates leaving, he still believes they can be title challengers.
Young said: “Everyone knows we’ve got a squad capable of competing with anyone but we’ve had so many injuries to key players.
“We’re getting a few back now, though, and although things haven’t always gone our way, we’re still confident.
“There’s been all the talk of players leaving as well but, honestly, as players we all know what happens; players leave, new players arrive and that’s part and parcel of it.
“We’ve all still got the same goal of winning and no one wants to let each other down. The things that have gone wrong we’re working hard to put right and this block of games during the Six Nations will define whether we can make the play-offs.”
Young is contracted at Wasps until 2020 but knows, depending on how his Test career pans out, he may have to join one of the Welsh regions thereafter.
He added: “The rules are there but I’m at Wasps next season and I haven’t thought beyond that. If I look too far ahead, I might lose focus on what I’m doing with Wales and Wasps right now, but come next season I’ll have a good think about it.”
As for a potential clash with Wasps colleagues Joe Launchbury, Elliot Daly, Nathan Hughes, Brad Shields and Dan Robson in Cardiff this Saturday, Young laughs: “There’s been a bit of banter and I get stick for being Welsh all the time anyway.
“England are looking pretty good and I was really chuffed to see Dan Robson come off the bench last week – I’d relish going up against them.”