![\"Steffan](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_JS300295278.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe 20-year-old is Taulupe Faletau’s likely long-term successor<\/p>\n
Steffan is a rugby correspondent with a thorough knowledge of the sport in Wales and the UK. He has previously been a news reporter at WalesOnline and also worked at a well-respected sports agency, breaking exclusives on Welsh rugby in Wales and for UK national websites and newspapers.<\/p>\n
![\"Morse](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_190425-Ospreys-v-Cardiff-Rugby-United-Rugby-Championship-.jpg\")
Morse is considered one of the finest talents in Welsh rugby(Image: Gruffydd Thomas\/Huw Evans Agency)<\/p>\n
The date is January 1, 2024 and, midway through a Welsh derby between the Ospreys<\/a> and Cardiff<\/a> at Bridgend’s Brewery Field, teenage No.8 Morgan Morse<\/a> fields a kick.<\/p>\n In horrible conditions, Morse uses his footwork, explosive power and pace to step past three defenders before running in a try from 45 metres out. It is a try which leaves spectators gobsmacked <\/a>and underlines why the then-18-year-old had long been viewed as a special talent by those working within Welsh rugby’s pathway.<\/p>\n When this writer interviewed former Wales prop Paul James – who is now a coach within the Ospreys pathway – a couple of years ago, he had no hesitation in identifying Morse as the talent to watch out for.<\/p>\n “The clear standout is Morgan Morse who is going to be special,” James told WalesOnline at the time.<\/a><\/p>\n Morse, who is now 20, is reminiscent of Jac Morgan at the same age, not in terms of style, but in the fact he is a class above others in his age bracket.<\/p>\n The former Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera pupil has everything needed to develop into a high end Test player and Steve Tandy should waste no time in bringing Morse into the senior Wales squad. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.<\/a><\/p>\n His omission from Wales’ summer tour of Japan along with the U20s World Championship was met with widespread criticism on social media.<\/p>\n “On the Morgan Morse one, I actually think he\u2019s going to be a hell of a player,” explained Matt Sherratt, who was interim head coach at the time.<\/a> “He\u2019s got power, he\u2019s quick and he\u2019s got a point of difference.<\/p>\n “In normal circumstances, he may be a player that comes on the plane.<\/p>\n “I just feel he\u2019s really an out-and-out No. 8. And with Toby Faletau and Aaron Wainwright coming, is it time really, with the position Wales are in, to be gambling with that? I\u2019m sure in six months time, Morgan Morse will have an experience.”<\/p>\n Fair enough, but, come the autumn, Wales needs to start turning its thoughts towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup<\/a> in Australia.<\/p>\n Despite putting an end to a wretched run of 18 Test match defeats on the bounce with victory over Japan, Wales remain in the doldrums and there is currently a lack of quality in Welsh rugby.<\/p>\n What Tandy needs is a wave of potentially elite talent coming in to strengthen the squad from the U20s over the next couple of years.<\/p>\n Morse is one player with an extremely high ceiling who has the long-term potential to develop into a quality international class loose forward.<\/p>\n One rugby expert told this writer he sees a touch of England and Lions backrower Ben Earl in Morse, in that he can play six, seven and eight with equal effectiveness. Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n There are too many players in Wales who are reliable but without the point of difference needed to make an impact at the highest level.<\/p>\n Morse has plenty left to learn but is a special talent with the physicality to thrive but can also have big moments and key interventions which can turn the result in his team’s favour.<\/p>\n There is no doubt about it, Morse is Taulupe Faletau’s long-term successor.<\/p>\n Morse will have a battle on his hands getting into an Ospreys backrow containing the likes of Ross Moriarty, Morgan Morris and Jac Morgan to begin with but competition for places is a good thing.<\/p>\n When Tandy takes the helm in September the Welsh public need to be patient with the former Ospreys boss because it will take time to turn around Wales’ fortunes.<\/p>\n It wouldn’t have mattered if the Welsh Rugby Union had appointed Rassie Erasmus or Michael Cheika as the head coach the reality is they both would have struggled to begin with at least.<\/p>\n That doesn’t mean he should be given a free pass but there needs to be an acknowledgement this is a long-term project.<\/p>\n One potential dilemma for the new coaching team is whether they select experience over potential to try and grind out a couple of wins or does he opt for players who are rawer but with a high ceiling?<\/p>\n Do you go for someone who is never going to be above a six out of 10 at Test level or decide to go with a rookie who could reach eight or nine out of 10 in a few years time. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.<\/a><\/p>\n