Warren Gatland may be forced to make a bold choice as injury to Wales captain and No.039 alters Six Nations plans Where will Warren Gatland turn when Jac Morgan is ruled out of the Six Nations?
Walesonline bookmark comments 1 Morgan Morris (scrum cap) could be Warren Gatland’s bold choice for Wales Six Nations Campaign Get the latest Welsh Rugby analysis and interviews More newsletters Enter your email address… room We use your registration to provide content in a manner you have agreed to and to improve your understanding. This may include advertising by us and third parties based on our information. More information When Ospreys head coach Toby Booth confirmed that Jac Morgan had undergone knee surgery and was struggling for the Six Nations, many Welsh rugby fans would have gone into panic mode. Morgan was Wales’ totem throughout 2023 and developed into the spiritual leader of the side. It goes without saying that losing the opening side of the Ospreys will be a hammer blow for Walesand. Six nations option. But what does Morgan’s likely absence mean for Wales ahead of their Championship opener against Scotland on March 3? February? Rugby correspondent Steffan Thomas looks at the possible scenarios. READ MORE: Axed Wales star makes performance Warren Gatland can’t ignore as new Six Nations looms READ MORE: Wales captain likely to miss Six Nations after both#039;ball after operation Wales need a new captain Morgan led from the front during the Rugby World Cup and is a natural leader of the men, so it goes without saying that Wales need Brynamman’s leadership. Because Dewi Lake was Wales co-captain in France and it’s only natural to see the Ospreys winger as the number one leading his country through the Six Nations. The 24-year-old is an inspirational figure who leads from the front, but there is one complication. Ryan Elias was Wales first choice at the World Cup, so there is no guarantee that Lake will start. Another option is experienced second-rower Adam Beard, who is highly regarded by the Welsh coaches. Beard is highly regarded in Wales and has been an electrifying presence in the past. Exeter Chiefs lock Dafydd Jenkins is another possible option. He may only be 21, but he has regularly bossed Exeter and is another player for whom leadership comes naturally.One thing is that he works very hard, he is very diligent, very professional, he is very ready to succeed and win things, and he has a good character to be a leader and a captain,andquot; Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter told the club’s website. I didn’t hesitate to make him captain when we put the team together and yes, we had more experienced players.andquot; Gatland has never shied away from making bold calls – Morgan is just two years older than he was given the captaincy at the World Cup. When the 2027 World Cup begins in Australia, Gatland wants his entire line-up of leaders. If you think back to when England won the 2003 World Cup, Martin Johnson might have been the captain, but many players like Lawrence Dallaglio, Richard Hill, Martin Corry and Jason Leonard could have stepped into his shoes. There is an opportunity to build something similar in Wales. Who will wear the Wales shirt in Morgan’s absence? Leicesterand’s Tommy Reffell is the clear frontrunner for the honour. Morgan was in the spotlight last season, and deservedly so, but it’s easy to forget how good a player Reffell is. In fact, there are better aspects to his game. Reffell is one of the best jackley players in the Northern Hemisphere and arguably the best jackleyer in the Gallagher Premier League. The 24-year-old has been a standout for the Tigers for several seasons, with much of their game revolving around Reffelland’s actions. Reffell is good not only at winning rounds, but also at stopping opponents’ balls. He has been successful for Wales in the past, most notably in South Africa in the summer of 2022, helping the men in red win their first ever test match against the Springboks in the Rainbow Nation. Taine Basham, James Botham, Josh Macleod and Ollie Griffiths are other possible options to open in Morgan’s absence, but the smart money is on Reffell to start against Scotland in early February.
