Thomas Young's Big Decision

[Rossm]

Bobby Bridge in the Cov Tel.

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/thomas-young-wales-rugby-news-15810423

I hope he stays but I quite understand if he feels he must leave to keep his international career alive. Whether he will play as well somewhere in Wales as he has been doing at Wasps is moot however.

[NellyWellyWaspy]

Whatever decision he makes, I will respect and support it. He has been nothing but excellent whilst playing for Wasps.

The money at Wasps will be more than he would get paid in Wales, that's for sure, and I suspect he find it easier to get game time at Wasps, plus his career here may be longer.

We often assume that everyone wants to play for the national side for as long as possible, but that is not always so.

[Chunky24]

Further complicated by the change of wales coach after the world cup, he maybe in favour with pivac but probably have to wait and see until next 6 nations.

[Vespula Vulgaris]

I'll be really sad to see him go, but I'll view it along the lines of Simmo leaving, where I fuly understand it and wish him all the success in the world.  And not like Daly where I feel less charitably inclined...

[Rossm]

Further complicated by the change of wales coach after the world cup, he maybe in favour with pivac but probably have to wait and see until next 6 nations.

That may complicate things. But isn't the so called Gatland's law actually WRU rules? Or does the coach actually have ultimate choice to over ride the rules?

[jamestaylor002]

I couldn't fault YY if he chooses to move on. Can't blame the lad for moving back to Wales to further his international career, if that's what he wants.

[BG]

If he has a chance to be involved in the WC squad and to further his international career then he needs to do whatever is needed and I suspect no Wasps' fan would begrudge him for doing so

He has deserved his chance, and this chance might not come about again. There are 3 more 6n games left for him to judge where he thinks he is in the pecking order but I thought he was outstanding for Wales in the last game, albeit against Italy.

If he needs to sign for a Welsh region then so be it, he's still young (no pun intended) so can always change tack if things don't go according to plan (invoke a get out clause perhaps, if needs must  )

[Neils]

His contract is with us until the end of 2019/20 according to his father so he will get a good idea from representing his country at the WC. I suspect that by the time next years 6N comes around a decision will be made. I am sure whatever he chooses he will go with every Wasp supporters blessing.

[wasps]

Further complicated by the change of wales coach after the world cup, he maybe in favour with pivac but probably have to wait and see until next 6 nations.

That may complicate things. But isn't the so called Gatland's law actually WRU rules? Or does the coach actually have ultimate choice to over ride the rules?

Yeah, it's definitely a WRU rule.
However, it's there to improve the Welsh national side, and I would think that if a head coach could demonstrate sufficient reason why changing the law improved the Welsh national side even more, then I'd be surprised if any RU would stand in the way.

That being said, is TY head and shoulders better than the other open side options?
I can't see that any rules get changed or bent unless it's for someone who is exceptionally better than the alternatives.


If he plays in Wales, he's purely fighting the other back row options on merit
If he plays in England, it'll be merit and politics.


I'd love him to stay, but I can't see it happening.
If anything, it's possible that he was selected in the 6N's partially to whet his appetite and make him realise what he'd be missing if he didn't go back to Wales.

[Chunky24]

Further complicated by the change of wales coach after the world cup, he maybe in favour with pivac but probably have to wait and see until next 6 nations.

That may complicate things. But isn't the so called Gatland's law actually WRU rules? Or does the coach actually have ultimate choice to over ride the rules?

Yes it was originally called gatlands law but has changed since to be wru rules.
 I more meant is he a player Pivac will like, he is similar to James Davies who he had at scarlets so might be but also Pivac might give Davies a run instead.
Also agree if he goes he goes with my best wishes, every player should aspire to play for their country.

[westwaleswasp]

He would be damn near irreplaceable for us. Who else is that good and poachable?
The level of performance these past few years has been outstanding, and despite some thinking the whole team has underperformed this year, he really has not.

[Hymenoptera]

He would be damn near irreplaceable for us. Who else is that good and poachable?
The level of performance these past few years has been outstanding, and despite some thinking the whole team has underperformed this year, he really has not.

Willis is the ferret to replace Young..

[wasps]

He would be damn near irreplaceable for us. Who else is that good and poachable?
The level of performance these past few years has been outstanding, and despite some thinking the whole team has underperformed this year, he really has not.

Willis is the ferret to replace Young..

This is the interesting thing.... is he?

Jack Willis appears to be one of the best exponents of being a 6.5
I think he's meant to be a blind side flanker. He has a power game, and is a reliable ball carrier.
However his ability over the ball at a ruck is exceptional and he can often be seen linking play.
He also has traits of an 8 where we've seen control at the back of the scrum and explosive carrying through contact.

This shouldn't bother me at all, however, while Haskell and Robshaw have both made careers of being a 6.5, I tend to think that players like that are messed around with a lot.


So, if he was to specialise in a back row position, which one would it be?

[Rossm]

Having played in an era when flankers often played left and right, I still think it is a good idea. One thing  you get used to is pushing against the same side prop.

[Jac A]

With regard to Thomas I will echo what others have said.

Firstly, congratulations to him for a very good 6 Nations debut. Secondly, if he does choose to go to Wales to help his international career then I will be very sad as he is a superb player for us and up there with Lauchbury as our most important forward (in my opinion) but I will wish him well and have no hard feelings what so ever. In fact I will always look out for him and root for him when not playing us (much like Guy Thompson).

However, he is with us next year, which is great. In all honesty we've got enough problems at the moment without wondering who will be here in two years time.

Also I'm not sure how many caps he will get for Wales even if he goes. Their No7 factory is superb. Tipuric is still only 29 and a great player (also a superb lineout option which is a rare asset in 7), Ellis Jenkins (26) is one of the best turnover merchants around, Ollie Griffiths (24) I haven't seen much of but there was a lot of chatter in Wales about him being the next Warburton, James Davis (28) is also an excellent player at the breakdown and linkman, and Josh Navidi (28) has been very good in every international I've seen him in. So Thomas has a big fight on his hands. Add Faletau, Moriarty, Shingler and Wainwright and I'd be surprised if Thomas made the WRC squad.

On Jack Willis, he started out as a 7 (hence his twitter handle I think) and was used by England U20s as a 7, interchanging with Will Evans if I remember but he seems much more of a 6/6.5. Big, powerful, decent in the lineout and competes over the ball when he knows he can/will win it rather than scrapping for everything on the deck and slowing ball up as well as winning turnovers (cf Tom Curry's last couple of games).