Wales utility back Matthew Morgan tipped to show he has World Cup 'X factor' despite being dominated by giants
- Matthew Morgan makes his World Cup debut for Wales this tournament
- Warren Gatland has tipped the 23-year-old to provide the ‘X factor’
- The 23-year-old Welsh utility back Morgan is just 5ft 8in and 11st 7lb
- But he is fancied to be a mini marvel in a game dominated by giants
The theory that rugby is ‘a sport for all sizes’ will be tested to its limits when Matthew Morgan makes his World Cup debut.
At just 5ft 8in and 11st 7lb, the Welshman has been written off throughout his career but now has the opportunity to follow in the dazzlingly quick footsteps of pint-sized winger Shane Williams.
Morgan was rejected when he applied for a rugby scholarship at Cardiff Metropolitan University because he was ‘too small’, but Warren Gatland has tipped the 23-year-old utility back to provide the ‘X factor’ in a world dominated by giants.
The rugby is ‘a sport for all sizes’ notion will be tested when Matthew Morgan makes his World Cup debut
Warren Gatland has tipped Morgan utility back to provide the ‘X factor’ in a world dominated by giants
‘I’ve had the odd coach has saying: “You’re not big enough for my team”,’ said Morgan. ‘I’ve had that most of my life. But I can turn around and say “Look where I am now”. They said the same about Shane Williams and he became the best player in the world.’
To put Morgan’s size into perspective, he is less than half the weight that Wales prop Tomas Francis was three years ago. Gatland admits his wildcard selection is ‘not 6ft 4 and 115kg’, but believes the youngster compensates with his natural speed and skill.
Morgan is quickly becoming a fans’ favourite at the Millennium Stadium, despite only three substitute appearances, and is hoping for a chance in the upcoming Pool A fixtures.
The prospect of tackling giants such as 6ft 5in, 19st 12lb Fiji winger Nemani Nadolo and 22st, 6ft 8in Australia lock Will Skelton would daunt an average-sized international player, but Morgan is not intimidated by the mismatches in size.
‘It doesn’t faze me — you can’t go into game not backing yourself,’ said Morgan. ‘I’ve never been bothered about having to tackle bigger guys. There’s nothing I can do other than crack on. I work hard in the gym and on my technique and you’ve just got to go low and get stuck in.’
Morgan was educated at Brynteg Comprehensive in Bridgend — the same school as JPR Williams, Rob Howley and Gavin Henson — where he competed in athletics and football, as well as rugby. He signed for Bristol last summer and, after scoring over 150 points, was named Championship Player of the Year in May.
Morgan is quickly becoming a fans’ fav at the Millennium Stadium, despite only three sub appearances
Morgan will face the prospect of tackling giants such as Fiji's Nemani Nadolo and Australia's Will Skelton
Despite training regularly with Welsh veterans such as Henson, Dwayne Peel and Ryan Jones at club level, there is a significant step up in quality from the English second division to the international arena. But Morgan is fully prepped and, following this week’s withdrawal of star full-back Leigh Halfpenny, could now play a bigger role than he first anticipated.
‘We had a meeting earlier in the week,’ said Morgan. ‘Gats led it and reinforced we had to regroup after what had happened with the injuries. I know the coaches back me and want me to go out on the pitch and just express myself. The last couple of months have been massive and I would just love to get on the field and play at the World Cup.’
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