Wales Junior Rugby World Cup squad

Forwards: Tom Phillips (captain, Scarlets), Rhys Fawcett (Scarlets), Corey Domachowski (Blues), Leon Brown (Dragons), Kieron Assiratti (Blues), Dillon Lewis (Blues), Liam Belcher (Blues), Dafydd Hughes (Scarlets), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Seb Davies (Blues), Shane Lewis-Hughes (Blues), Shaun Evans (Scarlets), Harrison Keddie (Dragons), Morgan Sieniawski (Blues), Josh Macleod (Scarlets)

Backs: Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys), Declan Smith (Scarlets), Daniel Jones (Scarlets), Billy McBryde (Scarlets), Jarrod Evans (Blues), Kieran Williams (Ospreys), Joe Thomas (Ospreys), Harri Millard (Blues), Tom Williams (Ospreys), George Gasson (Dragons), Keelan Giles (Ospreys), Rhun Williams (RGC 1404), Joe Gage (Ospreys)

Pretty much the six nations team with Josh Macloed, Liam Belcher and Tom Williams being added to it, however, there is no place for Owen Watkin so that must mean he's in Gatlands sqaud to tour New Zealand

Nope rested for next season apparently. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/ospreys-star-owen-watkin-left-11276797

I am not sure what are realistic expectations of this squad (probably because I don't understand the permeatations of finishing 2nd or 3rd etc). We have a strong scrum and two good outside halfs. Giles has some serious gas, but are we now a bit weak in the centre?

I assume this (his absence from the U20s squad) means Owen Watkin will be involved with the 1st team Wales squad for their summer tour to New Zealand.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/world-rugby-u20s-championship-who-11275456#rlabs=7%20rt$category%20p$2

GavinDragon wrote:Nope rested for next season apparently. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/ospreys-star-owen-watkin-left-11276797

I am not sure what are realistic expectations of this squad (probably because I don't understand the permeatations of finishing 2nd or 3rd etc). We have a strong scrum and two good outside halfs. Giles has some serious gas, but are we now a bit weak in the centre?

The winners and highest placed 2nd team go into the semis. I imagine Joe Thomas will play instead of watkin, who looks a solid player but nothing exceptional. Reuben Morgan Williams at scrum half could light up the tournament of the back of a strong scrum.

Strange though that Owen is rested as he hasn't been overplayed this year and with fonotia coming in, shouldn't be overplayed next year. The under 20s could have done with him there

How old is Rory Thornton ? Is he to old to play for this team now ? I thought he was still 20yrs old. Strange he has not been selected.

He's a year too old

True Raven wrote:He's a year too old

Ah, that's why. OK cheers.

http://www.worldrugby.org/u20/fixtures

Ireland on Tuesday 7 June @ 17:30
Georgia on Saturday 11 June @ 15:45
New Zealand on Wednesday 15 June @ 17:30

S4C is covering the tournament, with all our games LIVE -
http://www.s4c.cymru/caban/?p=11722
http://www.s4c.cymru/caban/?p=11725&lang=en

I know the Ireland game is also Sky

Full pool details -http://www.worldrugby.org/u20/standings

Do the pacific islands not put in for this competition?

Why do we always seem to get New Zealand in our friggin group.

GavinDragon wrote:Do the pacific islands not put in for this competition?

Samao finished 12th (last) at last years championship, so got demoted to the 2nd tier 'Trophy'.
Georgia won the 'Trophy' last year and got promoted to the 'Championship'

In this years 'Trophy' Samoa beat Spain 38 - 32 in the final, Fiji were 3rd

Interesting to note our finishing positions:-

2012 - 3rd
2013 - 2nd
2014 -7th
2015 - 6th

Comforting to know that we have beaten New Zealand and South Africa at this level. Even if the former was in a quagmire of a match and as the result of a Samson Lee lead scrum.

I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking that about Watkin, what a strange idea. Our backs really struggled against France without him, and the backs in the baby blacks will undoubtedly be a step-up. I hear their scrum isn't great though so that's a boost for us. Ireland won't be an easy game either, I'd love for us to notch up another 4 tries against them but I believe they would have got a lot better since the 6N. If this is our designated 2nd team then we should start taking it more seriously by not blocking players from playing (Watkin this year, T. Morgan the previous year).

Just thought I'd add that some articles lead me to believe that Watkin won't be touring NZ, that would be a dumb idea - especially when Roberts, Davies, Williams, Morgan and Dixon will be available.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36203337 - I get impression Watkin wanted to go, but reluctantly agreed not to go. I'm not sure what Tandy think he'll gain from this?
Owen would have been playing against future internationals from NZ and the rest of the world so would have gained a lot from the experience. I'm hoping they scrap it, just seems like a dumb idea.

Apparantly, he has some knee issues and Tandy wants him to have the summer off for his knee to heal as he want's him ready for the start of the season.

Personally, i wish he was with Wales as Wales could have a good campaign with him in the backline but after the Ospreys start of this season and with Fonotia not coming till middle of the year and possibly JJ not staying around, hes needed in the midfield to make sure we dont start next season as bad as this season

True Raven wrote:Reuben Morgan Williams at scrum half could light up the tournament of the back of a strong scrum.

I watched him during the Under-20s Six Nations and didn't think much of him at all.

I didn't think much of any of backs if I'm honest, they look pretty limited without Watkin. Special mention to Rhun Williams of RGC though, I was impressed by him.

No one looked spectacular, but they seemed to do the basics well enough.

If he has knee trouble, it is best that he rests it. Ultimately while we would probably all go mental if we ever won at this level - it is not the be all and end all in the grand scheme of things.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

True Raven wrote:Reuben Morgan Williams at scrum half could light up the tournament of the back of a strong scrum.

I watched him during the Under-20s Six Nations and didn't think much of him at all.

I thought he was brilliant considering he's still eligible for the under 18s. With his pace he was sniping around the fringes and got the opposition on the back foot several times. His passes to Dan jones weren't too shabby either. I agree with Mikey too that rhun Williams looked good too

I thought he took the wrong option too often - I remember a few times we'd got in behind the opposition and the move stalled / died with him. (Then again, I think I read the Blues named him most-improved young player or something, so what do I know.) I wasn't half as impressed by him as I was by Rhodri Williams a couple of seasons ago.

Yeah he did Luckless but it was the Ospreys most improved elite young player or some random title like that

Maybe they meant most improved since the Six Nations

mikey_dragon wrote:I didn't think much of any of backs if I'm honest, they look pretty limited without Watkin. Special mention to Rhun Williams of RGC though, I was impressed by him.

What ? Not even Keelan Giles ?

LordDowlais wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:I didn't think much of any of backs if I'm honest, they look pretty limited without Watkin. Special mention to Rhun Williams of RGC though, I was impressed by him.

What ? Not even Keelan Giles ?

He looks promising, not sure how he'll progress just yet as he's U18. If he were older I think I could better identify where he'll go with his career. My point was they backline as a collective aren't that good without Watkin there. He's a bit like what Roberts is to Wales. When he was absent then they are especially vulnerable in defence, see the France game where their big centre's caused us a lot of problems. As alluded to though, they do have very good handling skills, even if the halfbacks are a tad inconsistent.

If Watkin is supposedly carrying an injury then he why is he now a regular in the Ospreys team? Surely they should be resting him now if it's that bad. If not then he could just as easily aggravate something in pre-season if not the JWC. Tandy may as well rest Beard too, same logic. The Baby Blacks are going to slice through us unless Strange has something up his sleeve.

mikey_dragon wrote:The Baby Blacks are going to slice through us unless Strange has something up his sleeve.

lets hope we have the same weather as the last time we beat them.

LordDowlais wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:The Baby Blacks are going to slice through us unless Strange has something up his sleeve.

lets hope we have the same weather as the last time we beat them.

I think that is the only way we will do it!

Still - I have to say I am encouraged by the way the WRU are managing the age grade international teams. From u16's on they play the best teams as much as possible. The u18's have played/toured South Africa the last couple of seasons and the JWC gives our 20's regular games against the SH sides.

http://www.allblacks.com/News/29135/live-stream-nz-u20-v-australia-u20