Dai Young predicts Ireland recall for Wasps prop Marty Moore
Wednesday 28 September 2016 14:51, UK
Dai Young is expecting big things from Marty Moore at Wasps and says it would be a surprise if the prop is not recalled by Ireland in the near future.
Young has been delighted with Moore's impact since arriving from Leinster at the end of last season and the 25-year-old made his first start in Wasps' bonus-point win at Leicester on September 10.
Ireland performance director David Nucifora says Ireland players will be at a "disadvantage" in the battle for Test places if they play their club rugby abroad, but Young says Moore will be difficult to ignore.
"He has been excellent," the Wasps director of rugby told Sky Sports. "He worked really hard on his fitness levels throughout the summer and has fitted in really well.
"Unfortunately, he went through all the pre-season and worked his socks off and as soon as the season starts he picks up one or two niggles, but it's nothing serious.
It would be hard to ignore someone of Marty's quality if he's playing like we all know he can play.
"There is big rugby to come from him but we're really pleased with what we've seen from him. He's a fantastic signing for us and I'd be very surprised if he is not back in the Ireland ranks shortly.
"We all understand it is more beneficial to have players under your control, of course it is. There are certain things, when they play outside of Ireland, that you can't get total control over them.
"But all a player can do when he is in a different country is play the best that he can. Selection is always out of his hands but tighthead props are not falling out of the trees in any country.
"It would be hard to ignore someone of Marty's quality if he's playing like we all know he can play."
'Expectancy is high'
Young, who was speaking at Wednesday's Champions Cup launch, says there is more pressure on Wasps following last season's European exploits, where they beat holders Toulon in the pool stages and reached the semi-finals.
"Looking at our pool last year, we weren't expected to win a game, so we probably over-exceeded," he said.
"Expectancy will be high this year and with this group of players that we've got, they've got to come to terms with that.
"The days are gone where we're going to be underdogs in every game we play. There are games we'll be expected to win but it's how we handle that.
"It's about us, which is something I'm constantly talking to the players about. We're very respectful of the teams we play, we look at their strengths and weaknesses during the week, but it's about reaching the standards that we set ourselves, no matter who we play."
Wasps are strong favourites to top Pool 2, which also contains Toulouse, Connacht and Zebre, who they face in their opening game on October 15, live on Sky Sports.
All three sides have made poor starts to the season, with PRO12 champions Connacht bottom of the table, but Young expects the Irish province to overcome their early-season slump and be fit and firing by the time Wasps face them in back-to-back December fixtures.
"I've spoken to Pat Lam a couple of times with James Cannon going over there, and he is a fantastic signing for Connacht," said Young.
"Obviously Pat was let down in pre-season with a couple of friendlies so they've started the season a bit undercooked. Looking at their performances, they're not a million miles off it, so we're very respectful of that as a team. They're excellently coached and very well organised.
"I think Connacht are only five or 10 per cent away from getting back to where they were. They're going to be dangerous and I know from my playing days, Galway is never an easy place to go, and they now have a far better team than when I was going there."
