ROSS Moriarty wants 8 on his back with Wales this weekend but the Dragons back rower intends to keep adding something extra if handed the consolation prize of the 20 jersey.

The 25-year-old was given the role of impact sub in the Six Nations opener against Italy, backing up the starting trio of Aaron Wainwright, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau.

The confrontational back rower made a considerable impact when called into the fray with half an hour left to replace number eight Faletau, who got valuable minutes in the legs on his return to the Test arena after two injury-plagued years.

Moriarty has established himself in the Wales side in recent years but at last year's World Cup he lost his starting role.

Aaron Wainwright's rapid rise led to the senior Dragons back rower being on the bench in four of the first five games in Japan.

"He is not too happy with me with him not being in the side, but I have to say that from the initial disappointment and the chat we had, he's turned that around," said then boss Warren Gatland ahead of the opener against Georgia.

It was only Josh Navidi's hamstring injury in the quarter-final win against France that led to a recall to the XV but Faletau's return to fitness means that once again four into three does not fit.

South Wales Argus:

"I would never say I was angry, just very disappointed," said Moriarty when asked about the World Cup disappointment. "No player in my position would want to be sat on the bench and watching the game.

"My mindset is that I am here to start and that's how I go into every camp. I don't think that there would be much point in me being here if I wasn't in that mind frame.

"Obviously it was disappointing to not get the start but, like I said in the World Cup, if that's my role and I've got to be on the bench then I've got to take it on the chin, do my best to help the boys that are starting and then add the extra when I come on.

"The better that I play, the better chance I've got to get that starting spot."

South Wales Argus:

When Moriarty burst onto the scene he was pushing for a place in the back row with legendary flanker Sam Warburton.

Now the former Wales and Lions captain is part of the management team, passing on pearls of wisdom and being a high-profile waterboy.

"I played a few seasons with Sam, I got on with him as a player and now I get on with him as a coach," said Moriarty.

"It's nice to see him coming on with the messages and giving you confidence. He has taken his role very well, he is around training all the time and has been great.

"He doesn't speak to us any differently and I have sat down quite a few times with Sam. When you are players you don't want to get in someone's way of preparing but now I know that I can use him."

Pivac names his side for the Aviva Stadium at 11am with fit-again Gareth Davies, Elliot Dee and Owen Watkin back in the mix while centre Nick Tompkins is an option after impressing on debut off the bench in round one.

Wales haven't lost in the Six Nations since their last trip to Dublin but Moriarty isn't concerned by their track record.

"We have started a new chapter, we are not looking too far back," he said. "We are here to win the championship again and win the grand slam again.

"We aren't looking at past games because we have new coaches, some new philosophies and are concentrating on the now rather than worrying about what has happened in the past."