Could it be the sensational 40 metre try in the mud to beat Cardiff Rugby at the Brewery Field, winning, crossing for a try at Ellis Paark in Johannesburg to ensure the Ospreys reached the Round of 16 in the EPCR Challenge Cup or winning at Parc Y Scarlets on Boxing Day?
The teenager’s reference points this season, in which he has made four appearances for the Ospreys in the BKT United Rugby Championship and three in the Challenge Cup, have all been on the professional stage, but now he is about to set his sights on playing in his third season of Wales U20 games.
He already has 15 caps at U20 level and still has another year to go. He celebrated his 19th birthday last month in South Africa ahead off the win over the Lions.
“The boys bought me a cake and then eat it all,” recalled Morse. “Everything has happened quite quickly for me this season and I’ve had opportunities at the Ospreys due to injuries.
“There has been a lot of noise around me, but I’ve just been focusing on performing for the Ospreys. Now my big focus is on making sure I play well for the Wales U20 side.”
Morse has always been ahead of his tie. He played for the Swansea Valley Schools U15 in the Dewar Shield a year early, was only 14 when he first played for the Ospreys U16 team and won the first of his Wales U20 caps when he was 17.
His Ospreys senior debut came at the age of 18 and he hasn’t looked at all out of place in their pack this season playing against some of the biggest sides around. He has already scored in three separate games against the Scots at U20 level and would love to add to that tally in Colwyn Bay.
He made eight appearances last year, including wins over Japan and Georgia at the World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa, and is hoping to get this year’s Six Nations campaign off to a winning start.
“We’ve got a good enough team this year to have a good campaign. We didn’t have many good results last year,” said Morse.
“It’s exciting having so many players coming back from last season and it should be better than last year. Getting off to a good start is crucial – it’s important we get a win at home in our first game.
“That would give us some real momentum moving forward. When we went to France last year their side was full of players who had played in the Top 14 and we had barely anyone who had had a taste of playing in the URC, but it’s different this season.
“No one really expected us to do as well as we did in South Africa last summer and we should have beaten New Zealand in our first game. Now we’ve got to make sure we put in 80 minute performances.”
Like Morse, fellow back row man Lucas de la Rua has had top-level professional experience with Cardiff Rugby this season, as has skipper Harri Ackerman at the Dragons. Bath centre Louie Hennessey has also tasted Premiership action.
Morse believes the ability to train and play with senior players has helped to bring on his game this season and he will be looking to pass on as much knowledge as he can to his U20 teammates.
“It has all been a lot harder because it is so physical, and it takes me a lot longer to recover after games. The speed of things mean you have less time to think,” he added.
“All the opposition you play against are really good players. It’s been tough, but I’ve been enjoying it, and I love the physical side of the game – running at people and tackling.
“Richard Kelly has been a big influence on me as a coach at the Ospreys and with Wales U20. Then the players around me at the Ospreys – Jac Morgan, Justin Tipuric and Morgan Morris – have helped me a lot.
“I’ve learned a lot more about the game this season, all those little details around maul defence and things like that. Everyone digs in for each other in every game at the Ospreys.
“I’ve learned loads from Jac and Tips. Jac is going at 100mph in every session, whereas Tips is always calm and experienced.
“It’s been really good to watch them and now and then ask them some questions. I do a bit of jackaling with Tips after sessions and he always makes time to help. “
