Moriarty: I am so grateful to be playing again
No8 feared back injury could end his career Forward’s return boosts Wales against Scotland
Of all the protagonists in this potential firecracker of a Natwest Six Nations opener, none will feel any more delighted to be there than Ross Moriarty.
A little more than two months ago, the rumbustious back-rower feared for his career due to an inoperable back complaint which caused him to collapse without warning.
At the base of the scrum, plenty will be expected today from the 23-year-old, although it is only just now becoming clear how fortunate Moriarty is not to be on Warren Gatland’s extended injury list.
Six months of agony, setback and grave doubt began for Moriarty in the first game of the British and Irish Lions’ Tour to New Zealand.
“I heard two loud pops and I thought it was my hip cracking. But it was my discs banging out of place,” Moriarty said, reflecting on the twisting of the spine which heralded the premature end to his dream summer. “I tried to get back up and fell over, but somehow stayed on for the full 80.”
It was soon plain that something was very amiss, however.
“Two discs had jammed into the nerves on my legs and I couldn’t run, stand on one leg, walk upstairs or downstairs… the muscles completely switched off. It wasn’t until the doctor realised the reflex in my knee had stopped working that they knew how bad it was.”
Moriarty wanted the quick operation fix, but every expert he visited to undertake a microdiscectomy turned him away.
“A lot of people who have disc problems have a bit shaved off and they’re good to go again,” he said.
“They wouldn’t risk damaging the nerve any further. I went to see four different surgeons and they all said to let it heal itself over time.”
It was soon to get tougher. Moriarty came through his rehab in November and played for Gloucester against Leicester.
“I felt fine, but then the week after it was obvious something was wrong – I fell over,” he said. “That was the low point. I was really worried and very upset. I’d worked so hard. There’s not much for me without rugby, I took it badly.”
Encouraged by his father, Paul, the former Welsh international, Ross pressed on. An epidural injection allowed him to resume the recovery and two full games in Europe persuaded him and the Welsh management he was fit to start.
Moriarty will have to manage the condition for “the long term”, but he is determined that his unrelenting, bruising style will not be compromised.
“I will be relieved to walk off in one piece,” he said. “But I’ll walk on as if it’s my last international. I’m just so grateful to be playing again.”
And Wales are grateful to have him. In the absence of Taulupe Faletau, Moriarty will provide the aggression at No 8 and while everyone has been talking up this fixture in terms of free-flowing classic, do not be surprised to see Wales attempt to capitalise on the visitors’ depleted resources in the front five.
Gatland may have picked 10 Scarlets, and they may be the most exciting northern hemisphere team in club rugby, but he will not want it to open up to the extent where Scotland’s “organised chaos” comes into its own.
Gregor Townsend will arrive confident of his men securing their first victory in Cardiff in 16 years, but if they keep it tight, then Wales should just about give Gatland the win with which to celebrate his 10-year Six Nations anniversary.