Jack Morgan, “DuPont Wells”

Published on: 10/13/2023 – 7:43 pm

4 minutes

Welsh Antoine DuPont? It is in these laudatory terms, on par with the 2022 World Rugby Player of the Year, that the press is talking about Jack Morgan, the third-line winger in du Poireau’s XV who was promoted to captain at just 23 for his first tournament appearance. World Cup: Jack Morgan inevitably remembers Sam Warburton, who himself describes as his successor, whom an entire nation awaits before the quarter against Argentina, Saturday 14 October.

Although world selection record holder Alun Wyn Jones has retired, Lake XV coach Warren Gatland does not lack experience in his group of Dan Biggar, George North, Taulupe Faletau and Liam Williams.

Speed ​​as a common point with Warburton

The New Zealander, who was called to the rescue a few months ago after the sacking of Wayne Pivac, nevertheless chose to entrust the captaincy to Morgan, a player with no experience at the highest level, as he had already done in 2011 with Warburton.

The latter was not yet 23 years old when the World Cup began in New Zealand, which unfortunately ended with him receiving a red card in the semi-finals after a violent challenge on French winger Vincent Clerc.

Morgan and Warburton don’t just share their attitude and precocious maturity. Former international Jonathan Thomas, now Gatland’s deputy, sees other things: “the work ethic, the physical impact, the desire to be the best”.

For Andy Howell, the historical rugby journalist for the Welsh daily Western Mail, Morgan is a “naturally more talented player” than his illustrious predecessor. “He is technically superior, and has a better reading of the game. He can do everything, even kick!”

That evening, he produced a high-profile performance – including a 50:22 kick from his own half that ended in touch after bouncing in an opponent’s 22 meters and allowing the throw to be recovered – and the young Wales captain revealed himself well to the rugby world with his face bloodied during his side’s huge win over Australia. (40-6).

“There is no player in the world playing better than Jack Morgan at the moment.”

“There is no player in the world playing better than Jack Morgan at the moment,” Warburton wrote in a recent column for the British newspaper The Times. He added: “He has been amazing so far in the tournament, as a player and a leader.”

“He has artistic qualities that I never had before,” added the former player-turned-TV consultant. “He is asserting himself a bit like Antoine Dupont from Wales in terms of the importance he has to his team.”

It was far from a win, as just a year earlier, Pivac had not selected Morgan to tour South Africa after having nonetheless offered him his first selection a few months earlier in the Six Nations.

The Ospreys player, who chose to play rugby permanently in 2019 after being a junior engineer, today became a symbol of the renewal of a Wales that no one expected to have such a celebration at the Championship.

“He is a phenomenon,” praised Welsh attacking coach Jonathan Humphreys. “He’s one of those boys who doesn’t take pressure. He’s the same all week or two minutes before the game. The captaincy hasn’t changed him one bit.”

Teammate Jonathan Thomas adds: “He is still young and it is clear that he will continue to learn and grow.” “He’s a very humble kid. He knows he still has room for improvement even though his level is already perfect.”

I will not be able to use it since 11 years ago 2011 and Vincent Clerk is still in the rooms, and the “Warburton Nouveau” has given attention to the placards that the Gallois world has developed in the new past due date. world Cup.

With Agence France-Presse