Elliot Daly’s rise means Dai Young won’t miss Dominic Waldouck

The emergence of Elliot Daly as a star for Wasps this year made director of rugby Dai Young‘s decision to let Dominic Waldouck go a simple one.
Daly, 19, was one of the bright spots in a tough season for the Adams Park outfit and the outside centre’s match-winning penalty against Gloucester, with just three games to play, went a long way to securing his side’s Premiership status.
Having amassed 114 senior appearances for Wasps, Waldouck – still just 24 – was once similarly touted as the future of the England 13 shirt coming out of the club’s academy, but leaves for Northampton yet to win a senior cap.
Provided Daly can continue his dramatic rise, the players will no doubt clash for Saxons playing time before long, but Young insists the teenager has already proved that he has what it takes to make it on the international stage.
“He’s certainly got all the quality to be an England international, and one for many years to come – forget potential, he’s already a quality player,” said Young.
“I do think Elliot’s something special, but saying that, any player that doesn’t want to play at the club I’m coaching, you let them go.
“It was an easy decision to let Dom go, because we’ve got a lot of trust in Elliot.
“Dom was looking elsewhere; I think he was probably pretty concerned with the pressure from Elliot as well.”
If Daly is to make the step up to the England seniors from the U20s – where he scored eight tries in nine games two years ago before club rugby took priority this term – there are areas of his game he must improve.
In that regard Young has brought in 69-cap Italy centre Andrea Masi to take a load off Daly’s playing time and hopes the 2011 Six Nations Player of the Year, 12 years his senior, will help Daly’s defensive development.
Young added: “There are parts of his game he’s got to work on – but you could say that about a 29-year-old.
“His attacking game is second to none, he can beat you on a sixpence and he’s got searing pace that can make people look a bit silly.
“I think defensively he’s obviously got to keep on improving, and in making decisions when to go himself and when to use the winger.
“I brought in another experienced guy in Masi because his defensive qualities are fantastic and I’m sure Elliot can learn off him.
“This year he’s going to be there or thereabouts in the Saxons but he’s only going to get better – they might be able to hold him off for the 13 shirt for a season but I’m sure he’ll be very difficult to hold off for two.”
ADAM KNIGHT