Head coach explains his thinking on Morgan

WALES coach Wayne Pivac has been explaining his thinking behind the selection of Taine Basham in his summer squad and the omission of Jac Morgan (above).

He says the inclusion of uncapped Dragons flanker Basham in his 34-man party for next month’s Tests against Canada and Argentina is a reflection of the way the breakdown is changing.

He feels the 21-year-old suits the way the game is now going and so he gets the nod over Morgan and fellow opensides Tommy Reffell, Ollie Griffiths and Dan Thomas.

“We have had Taine before in the squad,” said the Kiwi coach.

“He broke his arm and had some injuries along the way.

“But the way the game is going now at the breakdown, the way it’s being refereed, there’s not a lot of turnovers.

“We have got to have ball players, guys that can carry, guys that can get us over the gain-line.

“I think, as a 7, Taine can certainly do that. He has shown that in club rugby.

“He has done well coming off the bench and who knows, he may get an opportunity off the bench for us.”

Ospreys-bound Morgan, from Brynaman, was widely expected to make the squad following his performances for the Scarlets this season.

But it’s Basham, James Botham, Ross Moriarty, Josh Navidi, Aaron Wainwright and the recalled Josh Turnbull who make up the back-row contingent.

Asked about Morgan, Pivac said: “We have been tracking him. He’s a good solid player. He’s new to club rugby at the top level.

“The other boys have probably just got a year or two on him and, in our opinion, they are just that slight bit ahead in terms of experience at this level of the game.

“It’s another step up obviously to Test match level and I think he is just going to have to keep working hard at his game.

“He’s a good young player and he’s one we will no doubt hear more about in the future.”