Jac Morgan: Wales are getting better despite heavy Nations Championship defeats

By Sam Jackson

Wales captain Jac Morgan insists his side are making tangible progress despite ending their Nations Championship campaign with heavy defeats to Argentina and world champions South Africa.

Steve Tandy’s men opened the tournament with an encouraging 39-24 victory over Fiji in Cardiff before suffering comprehensive losses in South America and Durban, where a much-changed Springbok side ran in seven tries during a 43-0 success.

South Africa could have eclipsed the 73-0 scoreline they posted in Cardiff last autumn but squandered several opportunities inside the Welsh 22.

Despite those setbacks, Morgan believes Wales are steadily narrowing the gap on the world’s leading nations.

Developing

The new Gloucester flanker pointed to encouraging performances during the Six Nations, particularly against Scotland and Ireland, as well as victories over Italy and Fiji, as evidence that the squad is developing under Tandy.

“I think we are – or at least we hope we are,” Morgan said. “You can see the progress we’ve made since the autumn.

“We just have to keep developing and the more we play together, the more experience we gain and the more we can improve.

“We’re a very close group and everyone wants to get better. Everyone wants to learn, improve and continue developing together as a squad.”

Wales return to Nations Championship action in November with home fixtures against Japan, New Zealand and Australia before facing another southern hemisphere opponent at finals weekend in Twickenham.