‘If Thomas was English he’d be in their squad’

Wales are being urged to reinforce their Six Nations squad by picking the revelation of the English Premiership – Wasps flanker Thomas Young.
The uncapped 24-year-old son of the Premiership leaders’ head coach Dai Young has had his formidable challenge backed by glowing recommendations today from a pair of English World Cup winners, Lawrence Dallaglio and Ben Kay.
Dallaglio revealed to The Rugby Paper how the Australian back row forward George Smith made a private plea for Young’s promotion before the venerable Wallaby left Wasps at the end of last season.
“It can be hard in sport for a father-son relationship,” Dallaglio said.  “You don’t want to be seen to have any favourites.
“So with that in mind George knocked on Dai’s door and said: ‘You should be picking your son more because he’s one of the best flankers in the country.’
“When someone of George’s calibre says that about another back rower you take notice. What I have really noticed about Thomas is how he has developed his game because of Smith’s influence.
“His decision-making at the ruck, when to go in and attempt the turn-over and when not to, is so much better. That’s a skill which the best opensides in the game are lauded for.
“Thomas is also a ball-carrier. He has a turn of pace and good hands. Add all that up and you have a player who is good enough to be selected for his country. If he was English, he’d definitely be in their squad.
“I sense there is a changing of the guard in Wales. (Dan) Lydiate is out through injury and (Sam) Warburton is standing down from the captaincy to get his game sorted out.
“Wasps thought they would struggle without Smith and James Haskell. In their absence, Thomas Young has been the stand-out player. He has put in consistently good performances over a long period in a tough League and in the Champions’ Cup, often as man-of-the-match.”
Dallaglio’s is not the only famous English member of the Thomas Young fan club speaking out before Wales name their squad for the Six Nations on Tuesday. Kay, Martin Johnson’s junior partner for club and country who has since reinvented himself alongside Dallaglio on BTSport, said: “If Thomas had been an Englishman he would have been in their squad by now.
“Wales have an embarrassment of riches in the back row but Young is probably the form seven in the Premiership just as (Justin) Tipuric is the form seven in the PRO12.”
Even had he listened to overtures from England, Young would have been ineligible because he played for Wales at under-age level.  Unlike George North, Taulupe Faletau and Jamie Roberts, Young does not fall foul of Wales’ complex policy over picking Welsh players employed by English or French clubs. Cardiff Blues released Young three years ago when he was struggling for opportunity behind a trio of Welsh internationals, (Warburton, Ellis Jenkins, Josh Navidi) and an Irishman, Robin Copeland. After three months at Gloucester, Young became reunited with his father at Wasps.
Wales plan to start the Six Nations in Rome on Feb 5 with the back row which finished the last match against South Africa – Ross Moriarty at six, Tipuric at seven, Faletau at eight.
PETER JACKSON