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It’s no secret that in the Warren Gatland era Wales have been partial to the odd Wasps connection or two.

The Kiwi himself bossed the club during his ascent to the upper echelons of the rugby coaching strata.

Shaun Edwards assisted him in those days, Rob Howley played for them, other back room staff like Paul Stridgeon also passed through the formerly London-based outfit and attack coach in waiting Alex King was a Wasps fly-half.

One a Wasp, always a Wasp, so the yellow and black diehards always say.

Well, if Rob Howley was watching his old side on Christmas Eve afternoon with a sherry and a mince pie, he must have realised it is time to extend the connection to his 2017 Six Nations squad.

Thomas Young, the 24-year-old son of ex-Wales and Lions prop Dai, simply has to be included on the evidence of his performance against Bath at a packed Ricoh Arena.

Any qualms about him being based in England and subject to Premier Rugby’s strict rules on availability have to be brushed aside.

Wales just aren’t in a position to ignore players of this quality, even in a back row department which sees them relatively well served.

‘Where will he fit in?’ will be the cry of sceptics. Who cares about that for now. Just get him involved.

In the space of an opening 20 minutes that was breathtaking in its pace and intensity, Young saved Wasps a try with a magnificent turnover inside his own 22 and then proceeded to create one which a blistering burst and deft inside pass to wing Christian Wade.

He was at the forefront of his side’s defensive effort when Bath recovered from Wasps’ furious start to the game, and then rounded off the first 40 minutes by stealing a loose ball at a breakdown 10 metres inside his own half and sprinting 60 metres to score.

From where he was, only Justin Tipuric could have done what Young did, and I’m unsure whether even the Ospreys man would have had sufficient gas.

Wales have harped on for some time about embracing a faster, more open and creative game - the sort of game that has become Wasps’ trademark.

Frankly, if Wasps played Wales next weekend you wouldn’t find much money being put on the Test XV.

The point being Young is tuned into the style already. He’s tuned into taking chances, to spotting gaps and backing himself to go through them, to getting on the shoulders of the most dangerous Wasps runners, to playing what’s in front of him.

Those are all the qualities Howley craves in his Wales players, but has yet to extract – if they are there in sufficient quantity at all.

As discussed, Wales’ back row are not scarce. Taulupe Faletau and Justin Tipuric would be in most sensible selections.

Ross Moriarty has had a fine year in terms of his international development and would be entitled to feel hard done by if he were to miss out.

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But I’d love to see a triumvirate of Young at six, Tipuric and Faletau.

Sam Warburton? With the greatest respect I’m not sure he offers enough in terms of the way Wales want to go, the way they must go.

There is around four weeks before Howley picks his Six Nations squad.

With the unfortunate Dan Lydiate out injured long term it will be very hard to fathom if Young isn’t included.

Make that impossible.