Shane Williams column: Cardiff Blues have signed one of Europe’s top talents

Of all the transfers and moves announced so far – Matthew Morgan joining Cardiff Blues is by far the most exciting. I said before the World Cup that I believe Morgan is one of the most dangerous attackers in the world and I meant it. Now on that 4G pitch at the Arms Park, he could really light up the Guinness Pro12.
There are always going to be questions with ‘Titch’ about his size and there’s only so much he can do about that. I know exactly how he feels because that was a so-called ‘issue’ I had to contend with for pretty-much my entire career.
I trained and played with Morgan at the Ospreys and we talked about how to deal with it. What he has done, as I had to do, was adapt a game and style that plays to his strengths.
Don’t let his 5ft 8ins frame fool you. Matthew is a tough character and not just physically, but mentally too. Like me, he gets bashed around the park in nearly every game he plays. But he has worked hard on getting into the best shape possible so he can almost bounce through games.
As a result, he rarely gets injured. What’s more, he just picks himself back up and goes again. That takes courage in a game of giants. Let’s face it, if he can handle the physicality of the Fijians in a World Cup match, then he can pretty much handle anything at regional level or the Six Nations.
I mention the Six Nations because I would happily back Morgan to start in the number 15 jersey in that opening game against Ireland in Dublin on February 7.
With Leigh Halfpenny injured, that shirt is completely up for grabs. Liam Williams and Gareth Anscombe both hope to play for their regions before the Six Nations.
But it is tough coming back to play at any level after such a lengthy break as those guys have had, let alone coming back to international rugby. Hallam Amos is another who may find that.
I’ve always been a firm believer in picking players on form and, right now, Morgan is playing well. Ironically the other option could be the guy he is effectively replacing at the Blues, Rhys Patchell.
I probably shouldn’t say this too loudly, but Morgan is an example of someone who has benefited tremendously from moving away from Wales.
He was stuck at the Ospreys, not playing enough rugby and had hit a ceiling with Wales Under-20s. But the move across the Severn Bridge was brilliant for him.
Bristol may not have won promotion to the Premiership, as we all expected, but his own game has soared.
He needed to play regularly and with experienced old heads like Andy Robinson and Sean Holley guiding him from the sidelines, he has grown so much.
He has the confidence and the ability to take on anyone but he has also learned to pick and choose his moments better and he realises that there is also a time when you simply have to put boot to ball.
That maturity saw Gatland call him up for the World Cup and even handed a starting role against Fiji.
Warren may not have immediately taken to ‘off-the-cuff’ players like James Hook but I think he has got enough grey hairs from watching me play over the years to now be willing to give the likes of Morgan a go.
He was electric against Fiji and showed the world just what he can do. With the ball in hand, there just isn’t anyone else like him in Wales – or perhaps Europe – right now.
With defences becoming so organised, Wales, in fact the whole of rugby, needs players like Matthew Morgan who can produce something out of nothing to break open a game.
Sometimes it might not come off, but you have to accept that for all the good things that players like Morgan or Sam Davies at the Ospreys can produce.
Moving back to Cardiff will put him right under Warren nose for future selection but this is also a great move for the Blues.
Danny Wilson worked with Morgan at Bristol so knows just what he is getting and how to get the best out of him.