Gatland must find a way to get dynamic duo both on the field, says Shanklin
TOMMY Reffell and Jac Morgan must be named in the Wales team together when the Ospreys star returns from injury.
That’s the view of former Wales star Tom Shanklin, who believes Warren Gatland must find a way of getting the two opensides in the same Wales XV.
Reffell was the best player in a red jersey during Wales’ defeat to England on Saturday, producing a magnificent non-stop performance that saw him dominate at the breakdown and play a key role in Alex Mann’s try.
His superb game at Twickenham followed another impressive showing against Scotland on the opening weekend of the Six Nations, with head coach Gatland praising his “outstanding” work-rate after the England clash.
The Leicester Tigers man’s brilliant form has led to suggestions that Morgan, who was magnificent at the World Cup but is currently recovering from knee surgery, has a fight on his hands when he returns from injury.
But former centre Shanklin believes the two flankers have to start together when Morgan is back on the field, claiming that they are “just too good to leave out”.
Wales did, of course, opt for dual opensides in their World Cup quarter-final defeat to Argentina, with Morgan moved across to blindside and Reffell retaining the No. 7 jersey.
While Gatland said that his tournament co-captain was “very comfortable” with the move, he admitted it was “not something we want to replicate on too many occasions”.
But nevertheless, Shanklin says the thought of the pair both playing together is “exciting”.
Asked on BBC Scrum V if Gatland needed to find a way to start both men, the former Wales star replied: “I think there has to be.
“I think Tommy Reffell is world class, we’ve seen that over the last two games.
“How can you not play him? “I think Jac Morgan can play out of position at six.
“I think he’s big enough, he’s strong enough, I think he’s probably Wales’ best carrier.
“So it’s exciting to think about those two playing together. Then you’ve got Aaron Wainwright and Taulupe Faletau when he’s back.
“I think they have to play together, they’re just too good to leave out.”
Meanwhile, former England boss Sir Clive Woodward says Gatland’s decision to take off Elliot Dee and
Keiron Assiratti ultimately cost them victory at Twickenham.
Wales slipped to an agonising defeat at the hands of their old rivals, with England coming back from 14-5 down to win 16-14 in a tense affair.
The defeat means the young Wales side have now started their Six Nations campaign with two defeats from two, with a daunting trip to Dublin to face hot favourites Ireland lying in wait.
Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, World Cup winner Woodward admits he wasn’t overly enamoured by England’s showing, but believes Gatland’s decision to take off Dee and Assiratti provided the hosts an opportunity to come back into the game.
He also hit out at Wales and England’s constant talk of “rebuilding”, describing it as a “cop out” that acted as an excuse for not winning matches, something he says should never happen in the Six Nations.
“England were too predictable against Wales,” he wrote.
“Warren Gatland and his side missed a big opportunity. Again, it comes back to talk of rebuilding.
“Wales’ scrum and line-out was going very well. But then Gatland decided to take off hooker Elliot Dee and tighthead prop Keiron Assiratti on 55 minutes. It was a big mistake because from there, the Welsh scrum and line-out unravelled.
“England’s forwards got on top and it allowed George Ford to control the game and get his team over the line.
“I just shake my head when coaches make decisions like that. Dee had to stay on the field.
“When he and Assiratti came off, it didn’t look like they’d gone 12 rounds with Mike Tyson. They could and should have carried on.
“Gatland didn’t need to make that call and arguably, it cost Wales the game.
“In last year’s World Cup semifinal with South Africa, (Steve) Borthwick did the same thing and it cost England badly. It was a major error and now Wales and
Gatland have committed the same cardinal sin.
“Coaches have to realise that it is not easy for replacements to get up to speed quickly.
“Gatland clearly wanted to give rookie prop Archie Griffin a debut and Test experience but I think if he could have his time again, he would have kept
Dee and Assiratti on.
“England might still have won the game even if those two players had continued.
“But we will never know.”