Wales Under 20s at the JRWC

Wales U20 Junior World Championship squad
Forwards:
Rhys Davies (Ospreys), Tom Devine (Dragons)
Dewi Lake (Ospreys – Capt), Will Griffiths (Dragons), Garin Lloyd (Ospreys)
Ben Warren (Cardiff Blues), Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets), Nick English (Bristol Bears)
Jac Price (Scarlets), Morgan Jones (Scarlets), Teddy Williams (Cardiff Blues), Ed Scragg (Dragons)
Lennon Greggains (Dragons), Jac Morgan (Scarlets/Aberavon), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers), Iestyn Rees (Scarlets)

Backs
Harri Morgan (Ospreys), Dafydd Buckland (Dragons)
Cai Evans (Ospreys), Sam Costelow (Leicester Tigers)
Aneurin Owen (Dragons), Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler (Ospreys), Max Llewellyn (Cardiff Blues)
Ryan Conbeer (Scarlets), Rio Dyer (Dragons), Deon Smith (Dragons), Ioan Davies (Cardiff Blues), Tomi Lewis (Scarlets)

Wales U20 fixtures
June 4: Wales U20s v Argentina U20s (KO 5pm BST)
June 8: Wales U20s v France U20s (KO 5pm BST)
June 12: Wales U20s v Fiji U20s (5pm BST)
Knockout stages on Monday, 17 June and finals day on Saturday, 22 June, live on ITV.

Aneurin Owen out cold with a head clash before two minutes on the clock. Stretcher called.

He came to, and walked off unassisted.

Hope he’s ok. He is sitting his A Levels out there too. Walking off unaided is possibly a good sign, but it’s hard to tell.

Wales had started pretty well, but that try is pretty big.

Nice start to the Rwc

Three very soft pens at the end nearly cost us.

We have a very tough group to qualify from.

maestegmafia wrote:We have a very tough group to qualify from.

France are the champions, who we have next, but we should have enough in us to beat Fiji.

maestegmafia wrote:We have a very tough group to qualify from.

England and GS champions Ireland in another group, while NZ and SA in 3rd. None of the groups are easy this year.

How did Reffell go. Having missed the 6Ns with injury he will be hoping to make a mark in his 3rd and final JWC.

Wales did very well to win that. There were a few occasions where Argentina seemed to have all the momentum.

What was the score?

Collapse2005 wrote:What was the score?

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-u20-world-rugby-rosario-16376793

RiscaGame wrote:Wales did very well to win that. There were a few occasions where Argentina seemed to have all the momentum.

The young argies scored some very good tries

maestegmafia wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:What was the score?

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-u20-world-rugby-rosario-16376793

Thanks, good win. Welsh rugby is in rude health at international level at the moment.

Collapse2005 wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:What was the score?

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-u20-world-rugby-rosario-16376793

Thanks, good win. Welsh rugby is in rude health at international level at the moment.

There are a few good players in that team. Hopefully we have some future potential.

Ireland have quite a good Welsh player in their side called Iwan Hughes. One that got away?

He seems very lively.

Anyone seen the team or know when they will announce it?

Wales U20s: Ioan Davies (Cardiff Blues); Tomi Lewis (Scarlets), Max Llewellyn (Cardiff Blues), Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler (Ospreys), Ryan Conbeer (Scarlets); Cai Evans (Ospreys), Dafydd Buckland (Dragons); Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets), Dewi Lake (capt, Ospreys), Ben Warren (Cardiff Blues), Ed Scragg (Dragons), Jac Price (Scarlets), Iestyn Rees (Scarlets), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers), Jac Morgan (Aberavon/Scarlets)

Replacements: Will Griffiths (Ospreys), Garin Lloyd (Ospreys), Rhys Davies (Ospreys), Tom Devine (Dragons), Nick English (Bristol Bears), Morgan Jones (Scarlets), Lennon Greggains (Dragons), Harri Morgan (Ospreys) Sam Costelow (Leicester Tigers), Deon Smith (Dragons), Rio Dyer (Dragons).

France U20s: De Nardi; Pinto, Vincent, Zeghdar, Taofifenua; Carbonel, Delord; Gros, Barka, Mallez, Maravat, Geraci, Victor, Zegueur, Joseph.

Replacements: Lachaud, Beria, Burin, Eglaine, Hamonou, Hirigoyen, Hocquet, Coly, Smaili, Delbouis, Dumortier.

Looks like we’ve put in bigger locks to the starting team, otherwise I’m unsure about changes not forced by injury.

The swap at scrum half is a strange one, is that injury based?

maestegmafia wrote:The swap at scrum half is a strange one, is that injury based?

The rules of the competition limit participation, due to age and short turn rounds. Not sure if they go as far as to insist every one gets start, but I believe players are limited to two starts in group stage, and 3 starts overall.

“Flanker Iestyn Rees, who impressed after substituting Lennon Greggains against Los Pumitas, starts in the back-row at Rosario's Racecourse Stadium while Ed Scragg comes in for Morgan Jones at lock.

Head injury victim Aneurin Owen is replaced by Max Llewellyn with Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler switching from outside-centre to inside.

Illness has resulted in star scrum-half Harri Morgan being demoted to the bench with Dafydd Buckland starting.

The final changes sees Tomi Lewis coming in to the side at right wing for Rio Dyer.“

The introduction of Byron Hayward with his stellar defence record at Scarlets, and amazing record with previous U20s team is going well I see. Shipped 7 tries already. This guy is supposed to be our international defence coach mind, just let that sink in.

I don’t think Haywood has actually been appointed yet

Selections not being helped by guys having to fit A Level exams in around the schedule:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48575780

Difficult time of year for so many players who are new to this age group. Plus side is we hopefully have lots of smart players coming through.

Of course those taking A levels now will usually still be eligible for U18s so have another two years at this age group.

U20 World Rugby Championship
Wales U20 v Fiji U20
Club de Rugby Ateneo Inmaculada, Santa Fe
12 June, KO 5pm UK

Wales under-20: 15 Ioan Davies (Cardiff Blues), 14 Tomi Lewis (Scarlets), 13 Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler (Ospreys), 13 Sam Costelow (Leicester Tigers), 11 Deon Smith (Dragons), 10 Cai Evans (Ospreys), 9 Dafydd Buckland (Dragons), 1 Tom Devine (Dragons), 2 Dewi Lake (Capt – Ospreys), 3 Nick English (Bristol Bears), 4 Morgan Jones (Scarlets), 5 Jac Price (Scarlets), 6 Iestyn Rees (Scarlets), 7 Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers), 8 Jac Morgan (Aberavon/Scarlets)

Reserves: Will Griffiths (Dragons), Garin Lloyd (Ospreys), Rhys Davies (Ospreys), Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets), Ben Warren (Cardiff Blues). Ed Scragg (Dragons), Lennon Greggains (Dragons), Harri Morgan (Ospreys), Ryan Conbeer (Scarlets), Max Llewellyn (Cardiff Blues), Rio Dyer (Dragons)

Dragons centre Aneurin Owen has been forced to withdraw from #WorldRugbyU20s after suffering concussion in the opening minutes of #ARGvWAL game in Argentina.

That’s part of a tweet off Dragons. Hope it doesn’t affect him taking his A Levels too.

Despite losing heavily to Argentina the young Fijians do look very capable at scoring tries. Wales need a bonus point from this having not earned one yet.

And it goes on, does seem that pre pro smash and grab times youth deep is still in the south. Despite all we keep hearing about depth, development. Still, its not over yet I guess.

Taylorman wrote:And it goes on, does seem that pre pro smash and grab times youth deep is still in the south. Despite all we keep hearing about depth, development. Still, its not over yet I guess.

Literally no clue what you’re talking about.

Got to say Taylor that over the last few years it’s not been a competition dominated by the SH teams.

A little worried for Sam Costelow at centre. Playing 2 years and out of position, against what could be quite large PI centres could be quite painful. Word out of the Tigers academy is that he is exceptionally talented at FH but with some growing still to do.

Yeah heard he’s 5’7 - sounds a little like Matthew Morgan so there could be a place for him in pro rugby in the future. Hopefully some of the big guys up front also kick on as we could do with more depth in the front 5.

maestegmafia wrote:Got to say Taylor that over the last few years it’s not been a competition dominated by the SH teams.

Nope, but all of a sudden its the top three SH sides topping the pools. Oz thrash Ireland, Ireland thrash England and only GS winners Wales have an U20 side that beats the usual forth Argie U20 side- closely.

Its already looking lopsided again despite the matches to come, I'm afraid. Oz, NZ and SA to fight it out.

Glad to be wrong but is the winner not already likely one of the 3? I'll go Oz.

Taylorman wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Got to say Taylor that over the last few years it’s not been a competition dominated by the SH teams.

Nope, but all of a sudden its the top three SH sides topping the pools. Oz thrash Ireland, Ireland thrash England and only GS winners Wales have an U20 side that beats the usual forth Argie U20 side- closely.

Its already looking lopsided again despite the matches to come, I'm afraid. Oz, NZ and SA to fight it out.

Glad to be wrong but is the winner not already likely one of the 3? I'll go Oz.

I think you’re jumping the gun a bit here Taylor.

Maybe this year there is a resurgence in the Wallabies and Pumas but otherwise SA and NZ are performing as per usual.
Wales haven’t had a great team for a few years, not since we were the first team to beat the Baby Blacks and make the Semis. Ireland lost a man against the Aussies but will still do well in this competition when they reach the next round.

Ireland can’t qualify for the final four though can they? It’s certainly been a tournament to forget for all four Home Nations sides.

England especially will be disappointed after reaching the last five or six(?) finals.

Cyril wrote:Ireland can’t qualify for the final four though can they? It’s certainly been a tournament to forget for all four Home Nations sides.

Mathematically possible, but unlikely.

LondonTiger wrote: Mathematically possible, but unlikely.

Definitely possible.

France can and despite Brexit I am pretty sure they are still a NH team. In fact if they hammer the Argies and Wales get a BP win over Fiji Wales may do ok. I don’t think anyone in wales had much hope of us winning this one

France will almost definitely make it. Just need to beat Argentina. 

Much harder for Ireland though as they cannot top their group. Even if they get a TBP win over Italy the best they can do is come level with Australia who would progress due to winning the match between them. Ireland therefore need to get as big a win as they can and then hope the losers of SA/NZ get no bonus points. then it comes down to points difference. Should Argentina beat France there is an added complication but doubt that will happen.

Taylorman wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Got to say Taylor that over the last few years it’s not been a competition dominated by the SH teams.

Nope, but all of a sudden its the top three SH sides topping the pools. Oz thrash Ireland, Ireland thrash England and only GS winners Wales have an U20 side that beats the usual forth Argie U20 side- closely.

Its already looking lopsided again despite the matches to come, I'm afraid. Oz, NZ and SA to fight it out.

Glad to be wrong but is the winner not already likely one of the 3? I'll go Oz.

NZ and SA are in the same pool, so only one of them is topping the pool. That leaves two of the top SH sides topping the pool along with current holders France who’s existence you seem to have forgotten about.

Interesting stat mentioned, over 100 tackles missed in 3 games. #ByronHayward

Taylorman hasn't stopped by to post anything, so I thought I'd pass on a story from the NZ Herald which I'm sure will be up very soon on the site.

"Celebrations broke out all over New Zealand after three Southern Hemisphere teams made it into the semi-finals of the U20 Rugby World Cup. Our own team's loss to South Africa, and failure to secure a bonus point means the Baby Blacks miss out on the semi-finals for only the second time in their history. However, everyone at an impromptu street party in Ruatoria waved flags for Argentina, South Africa and Australia, overjoyed that those three teams are still in the tournament."

LondonTiger wrote:France will almost definitely make it. Just need to beat Argentina. 

Much harder for Ireland though as they cannot top their group. Even if they get a TBP win over Italy the best they can do is come level with Australia who would progress due to winning the match between them. Ireland therefore need to get as big a win as they can and then hope the losers of SA/NZ get no bonus points. then it comes down to points difference. Should Argentina beat France there is an added complication but doubt that will happen.

I really had not foreseen Argentina winning so well. Of course France still made it through and as anticipated Ireland will be in the 5th-8th fight. With New Zealand, Wales and England also in that grouping it could be pretty competitive.

Taylorman wrote:And it goes on, does seem that pre pro smash and grab times youth deep is still in the south. Despite all we keep hearing about depth, development. Still, its not over yet I guess.

Yup.

I'm sure the loss will be blamed on the NH somehow

Does that mean we’re playing NZ next? Having watched both teams play I think that could be embarrassing for us.

mikey_dragon wrote:Does that mean we’re playing NZ next? 

Yes.

Rugby Fan wrote:Taylorman hasn't stopped by to post anything, so I thought I'd pass on a story from the NZ Herald which I'm sure will be up very soon on the site.

"Celebrations broke out all over New Zealand after three Southern Hemisphere teams made it into the semi-finals of the U20 Rugby World Cup. Our own team's loss to South Africa, and failure to secure a bonus point means the Baby Blacks miss out on the semi-finals for only the second time in their history. However, everyone at an impromptu street party in Ruatoria waved flags for Argentina, South Africa and Australia, overjoyed that those three teams are still in the tournament."

Cool that’s great. Wasn’t anticipating a NZ win as we got thumped by oz pre tournament. What’s great is the other three SH sides are there... and no home unions (tongue in cheek of course)

World Cup year some funny things are happening. Jaguares are second on the SR ladder as well.

How does this all work for the bigger stage?

Hmmm

The Oracle wrote:

Taylorman wrote:And it goes on, does seem that pre pro smash and grab times youth deep is still in the south. Despite all we keep hearing about depth, development. Still, its not over yet I guess.

Yup.

I'm sure the loss will be blamed on the NH somehow

Bigger picture Oracle. Arg, SA and Oz look to have genuine talent coming through at the same time. The shopping trolley numbers might need a boost!

The point being here that this tournament is no longer about developing players for future Bok, Wallaby etc sides for the south, it’s also more and more about creating an improved product for the northern teams. That is our reality in this game. We no longer look forward to seeing our youth thriving into our national jersey as we used to because the reality is they may not. So I’d fully expect a number of the SH players in this tournament to be playing NH club rugby within 12 months. And that as SH fans continues to suck, and like it or not, why some love to see the NH sides fail.

It matters not why that’s the case - as a fan- it’s just the reality we now live with.

Right so with the JWC being every year, this bodes well for SA, Aus, Arg at the 2019 rugby World Cup in Japan? Yeah makes sense...

Jagaures aren’t that good, they’re still second best to the NZ franchises so not sure what your point is there. Results-wise Argentina have sucked for the last 3 years.