Jac Morgan has been backed to thrive on debut by Wales coach Wayne Pivac after he was named in the side to take on Scotland in Cardiff on Saturday.
The Ospreys openside flanker has been a standout at domestic level having previously captained the Wales Under-20s side in 2020.
And after an opening defeat in Ireland, Pivac has decided the time is right to give the 22-year-old a shot, having been impressed by his showings in training.
“We are all looking forward to seeing Jac out there,” said Pivac.
“It will be a great opportunity for him and his family. It just goes to show.
“There are performances on the park in a Test match that obviously carry a lot of weight, but it is also what you do in training, and he has certainly done everything asked for him. Jac has trained very well. He is a very abrasive sort of player, and Ross (Moriarty) we know is very strong in that area.”
Morgan is one of two changes to the back row, with Ross Moriarty coming at No.8, while Taine Basham, a try-scorer in the 29-7 loss in Dublin, shifting across to blindside flanker.
That will be a new position for Basham, who has shown Morgan the way with his performances since breaking onto the international scene.
But Pivac believes that the make-up of the trio can be effective as they prepare to take on a Scotland team which is particularly strong in the back row, even without the injured Jamie Ritchie.
Pivac added: “We’ve learnt that way, and it gives us something different. Obviously, both Jac and Taine are sevens.
“Taine has played as an eight a lot in age-grade rugby and early part of his senior career, so it is not foreign to him to shift around the back row.”
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