Ross Moriarty: I control myself better now
Moriarty, a Junior World Cup winner with England U20s in 2013 and 2014, switched national allegiances when Gatland came calling.
The 21-year-old treads a fine disciplinary line, but his ‘edge’ is a trait Gatland admires.
Moriarty said: “Every team needs to have an edgy player and although I don’t try to be that deliberately, it’s just the player I am.
“I don’t go out to be confrontational, but it’s got me to where I am today and I’ve just had to learn to calm down a bit. I’ve made a few mistakes in the past, but I’ve learned from them and I can control myself a lot better.”
Moriarty credits Gloucester head coach Laurie Fisher for his transformation from being a bit-part player at Kingsholm into a Test-class flanker.
He explained: “I wasn’t expecting to be involved at a World Cup but I had a good run of games and got noticed, so I was glad to get the opportunity.
“I’ve had good coaching at Gloucester and Laurie Fisher has been a big part of my development as a player. He’s taught and drilled into me the nitty-gritty stuff of being a forward – all the stuff I probably didn’t want to do a couple of seasons ago.”
Having returned to Gloucester a Test player, much is now expected of Moriarty.
“I feel I’ve got to perform at my best every week, but being the son of my father (Welsh international Paul Moriarty) I’ve always had that expectation and take it in my stride,” he said.
Having benefitted from training with the Wales back row quartet of Sam Warburton, Dan Lydiate, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau, Moriarty is now anxious to take that into Gloucester’s league campaign.
He added: “I knew they were my competition so I couldn’t go in there thinking they were better than me. They gave me the confidence to do what I do.”
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