Pooler ace's hard work rewarded (From Western Telegraph)

Pooler ace's hard work rewarded

1:10pm Thursday 11th March 2010 in

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SOMETHING was missing alongside one name in the Wales U20 starting XV that crushed France a fortnight ago.

There was no regional name next to that of Morgan Allen, but there was very little lacking in the performance of the Pontypool back row forward.

The 19-year-old from Cwmbran, who turns 20 tomorrow, is not the only member of Phil Davies’ squad not aligned to the Dragons, Ospreys, Blues or Scarlets, but he will again be the only starter when they line up against Ireland tomorrow evening.

It will be his fourth start from four and Allen, who will line up as blindside flanker but can also play number eight, has relished the past few weeks.

“I’m enjoying it,” said Allen, who is a sports coaching and development student at the University of Newport. “It is my first experience of the national environment and you learn new things and skills every day.

“There are not many of us who aren’t part of the academy and it is nice to know that you can still get noticed and be part of the squad.

“I have put a lot of hard work in with our conditioning coach Wayne Proctor and have done a lot on my own to make sure my fitness was good enough to be part of this championship.

“It is great to be part of this squad and you can only learn and develop when you come into an environment like this, whether that’s from the coaches or other players.

“I haven’t really thought about the future and I will just see how it goes and what crops up.

“The ultimate goal is to be a professional but all I am concentrating on at the moment is this Six Nations campaign.”

The Welsh back row was immense against Les Bleuets at the Arms Park and earned the seal of approval from coach Davies, a man who knows a thing or two about being a loose forward.

He has opted for the same again in Athlone, putting Allen alongside Toby Faletau and Josh Navidi with Rhys Jenkins and James Thomas providing cover on the bench.

“Ireland will be a big physical side and we have just got to take it to them like we did against France,” said Allen.

“The French are always a good side and are always very physical so it was nice to show what we can do. I think the back row has a good balance about it at the moment.

“I think my strengths are ball-carrying, you have the same with Toby and his big tackling then Josh is a typical openside with his work rate around the park and making a nuisance of himself.

“But with James and Rhys on the bench there is also the competition for places that you need if you are to have a successful side.”