Wales centre Tyler Morgan keen to avoid World Cup injury curse
Thursday 1 October 2015 12:05, UK
Wales centre Tyler Morgan will make his World Cup debut against Fiji on Thursday hoping not to become the latest player to suffer from their injury curse.
Leigh Halfpenny, Rhys Webb, Jonathan Davies, Scott Williams, Cory Allen and Hallam Amos have been ruled out of most or all of their World Cup campaign through injury.
That has allowed 20-year-old Newport Gwent Dragons player Morgan the opportunity to impress as he takes his place in Wales' midfield after being called into the squad just nine days ago.
Davies would have worn the No 13 shirt had he not suffered a serious knee injury six months ago, while Allen had that number on his back when he damaged his hamstring against opening World Cup opponents Uruguay, having first scored a hat-trick of tries.
Williams then played there in last Saturday's victory over England at Twickenham only to be carried off after suffering knee damage and he is hoping to avoid adding his name to the injury list.
"It's a big opportunity for me," he said.
"It's been really unfortunate for the boys, and the 13 jersey has had a curse, but it does open the door for me to try to get my name in there as a starter.
"I am playing in my own position of 13 on a massive stage with everyone watching. For the team, it's really important to get another win after the England game. If we win, the pressure is on everyone else in the group."
Morgan made his Wales debut in last month's World Cup warm-up defeat against Ireland, but he failed to make head coach Warren Gatland's original 31-man squad for the tournament.
"I had half an hour for the Dragons against Connacht in the PRO 12, then I was sat watching the Uruguay game, and a few days later I am starting against Fiji," he added.
"It's been mad and a quick turnaround.
"At the end of last season with the Dragons, I was looking forward to the Under-20s World Cup. This World Cup was at the back of my mind, but I never thought I would be involved, given the likes of Jon [Davies], Jamie [Roberts] and Scott [Williams].
"Before the Ireland game I was pretty nervous, but a lot of the boys have told me that the first cap is the worst and you just have to get it out of the way.
"On the day, there will be nerves - everyone gets them - but it won't be as bad as against Ireland."
