I THOUGHT MY WALES CAREER WAS OVER Relieved Moriarty raring to go after highs and lows in quarters

ROSS MORIARTY admits a World Cup sending off would have ended his Wales career.

But after escaping with a yellow card in the quarter-final with France then popping up with his team’s match-winning try, he is now relishing a showdown with South Africa.

Moriarty went from zero to hero against France. He was sin-binned for a high tackle on Gael Fickou 90 seconds after coming on and was lucky not to be dismissed.

The warrior back-row returned to the field and his 74th-minute effort helped Wales to a one-point success.

Now only the Springboks stand between Wales and Moriarty reaching a first World Cup final.

“To come on and get the yellow card was disappointing,” he said. “I was thinking, ‘Please don’t be a red’. I’ve been in that situation before and it’s not a nice feeling. I knew how bad that would be for the team.

“In my head it was a case of, ‘If he gives me a red card this is the end of me’, but I never intend to put the team at risk. It was just a mistimed tackle.

“Thankfully the referee didn’t take it too harshly, but when

I realised he was going to his pocket I made sure it wasn’t going to be a red. It definitely wasn’t intentional.

“To be able to put the ball down was a good feeling. If we win this weekend then maybe people will think I got the try that got us into the semi-final. Hopefully that’s what they’ll remember more than the yellow.”

The hard man is set to start at No.8 in Sunday’s semi-final after Josh Navidi was ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a hamstring injury. Wales have won their last four meetings with the Boks, but Rassie Erasmus’ current side are formidable. Moriarty can’t wait for battle, and said: “South Africa are a physical team. To be involved in a game like this is why I started playing.” “Their forwards thrive on being physical – and that’s what I thrive on as well. Some players hide when it gets tough, but I get better.” Wales will have their big training day today with key centre Jonathan Davies (left) aiming to prove his fitness. Boss Warren Gatland is confident he will be available after missing the quarter-final. They had a light session yesterday, but Davies’ leg was strapped.