Scotland U20 vs Wales U20

First topic message reminder :

Scotland Under-20: Ruaridh Young (Edinburgh Accies), Damien Hoyland (Boroughmuir), Chris Auld (Gala), Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Hughes (Scotland 7s / Stirling County), Tommy Allan (unattached), Ali Price (Bedford Blues), Shawn Muir (Hawick), Russell Anderson (Gala), D'arcy Rae (Ayr), Ruaridh Leishman (Stirling County), Jonny Gray (captain) (Glasgow Warriors / Currie), Alex Henderson (Boroughmuir), Will Bordill (Sale Sharks), Adam Ashe (Glasgow Warriors / Stirling County).

Replacements: Callum Black (Edinburgh Accies), Jamie Bhatti (Stirling County), Phil Cringle (Edinburgh Rugby / Stewart's-Melville FP), Cameron Turner (Aberdeen Grammar), Tommy Spinks (London Scottish), Scott Steele (Leicester Tigers), Robbie Fergusson (Ayr), Keith Buchan (Boroughmuir).

Wales Under-20: Jordan Williams (Scarlets/ Llanelli); Harry Robinson (Blues), Cory Allen (Blues / Cardiff), Steffan Hughes (Scarlets / Llanelli), Aaron Warren (Llandovery); Sam Davies (Ospreys / Swansea), Rhodri Williams (Scarlets/ Llandovery); Gareth Thomas (Scarlets / Carmarthen), Ethan Lewis (Blues / Cardiff), Nicky Thomas (Ospreys / Swansea), Carwyn Jones (Scarlets/ Carmarthen), Rhodri Hughes (Ospreys/ Swansea), Ellis Jenkins (capt, Blues / Cardiff), Daniel Thomas (Scarlets / Llanelli), Ieuan Jones (Dragons).

Replacements: Elliot Dee (Bedwas), Nicky Smith (Ospreys / Swansea), Dan Suter (Ospreys / Bridgend), Jack Jones (Ospreys / Rovigo), James Benjamin (Bedwas), Joshua Davies (Dragons / Bedwas), Jack Dixon (Dragons), Hallam Amos (Dragons).

Harry Robinson has come back in for Wales U20 to form part of a good attacking back 3. The back-row is the one I wanted to see from the start of the tournament; Jones is the big ball carrier with two fetchers either side of him. Dragons players Dixon and Amos come onto the bench. Sadly no Rhys Patchell who is injured but otherwise would have been available. So that leaves one weak link in this Wales team for Scotland to attack; Sam Davies.

Wales need a big win to still be within a shot of the title. Can they beat a Scotland team full of big units who are also in the hunt for the same title?

We might see another penalty try soon...

Scotland are under pressure with 7 now Wales are back to full strength

Penalty try to Wales.

10-37 at 66 minutes. It'd be nice if the seniors could do this well tomorrow...

Had to be, good call ref.

Welsh kids mums and dads are odd entities, once they know your involved in the academy set up you become their best freind, they spend hours talking about their kids strengths, how much they want it and what they do more than anything else.

The Dragons coaches within the academy won't go near parents, the team manager deals with them.

I expect the same from the seniors tomorrow

Good driving maul by Scotland...they're edging to the try line...

As good as Grays looked he doesn't half look like his legs have gone already!

Thanks for the score updates; I can't watch these U20s games tonight. Sounds like a bit of a romp for the junior dragons.

blues - I'm not sure if I read your bit about the English academies right, but all the teams in the AP and Championship have to run an academy that produces English qualified players.

Very harsh yellow.

Another yellow

Both yellows Ive blinked and missed!

Me too Bluesman! Jeez...

Well played Wales, keep them out, good practice for next week. Well done Scotland, picking it up even if it is too late., great score.

Wowsers! What a superb try by Warren!!! Binning? What binning?

Wonder try. That was down to the experience of the guys who have played Regional rugby.

Bring back Patchell, please... We've missed too many kicks at goal in this tournament.

10-42 with less than six minutes to go.

Sorry Hound, I was talking elite and pro academies. I know all actually have them but a lot of teams do the absolute minimum (have a a junior section and youth team) and others farm their 'academies' out to local colleges/school.

Gloucester for example were using Hartpury for ages, and Wasps spent next to nothing until a few seasons back.

The RFU have just implimente a league structure to 'encourage' prem and champ teams to invest properly in their academies.

Did Ross just say "Big boll*cking number 8..."?

Not even the ref blocking helps the Scots

High tackle right in front of the referee

Allen should know how to tackle by now.

Corey Allen is MOTM and he's injured...

Only after blocking

Scots near the Wales lines usually means a Wales try coming up.

Ash deserves that, he's been my MOTM!!!

Scotland get a score...

17-42 at 77 minutes. At least they managed to get something from the Welsh binning.

Well done Scotland, they deserved that for not giving up. Only complaint ive got from a welsh POV is our discipline has been awful. Not helped by a whistle happy ref but if we give this many pens away next week we'll be punished.

Now what's the point of handbags with less than a minute to go?

Wales could possibly close the match with a score here...

ooh Warren could've got a hat trick there.

17-42 FT

So next week could be interesting...the English U20s stopping a Welsh GS and the Welsh seniors stopping an English GS...

Hope we get the same result tomorrow , well done lads.

The great thing is any of these welsh lads could be seen lining up for scotland in a few years now theyve heard of the place

England are looking typically English, crazily conditioned, and are just barreling through Italy for fun, the key next week is going to be how the welsh boys cope with the English ball carriers.

If we can cope with the big carriers and the set peice I think we'll take them, and Italy aren't receiving a hammering (yet) so points may be with us.

Well that was a disappointing game from a Scottish perspective. Wales looked excellent and scored some beautifully worked tries. The England game should be a cracker, hopefully it will be on TV

thebluesmancometh wrote:England are looking typically English, crazily conditioned, and are just barreling through Italy for fun, the key next week is going to be how the welsh boys cope with the English ball carriers.

If we can cope with the big carriers and the set peice I think we'll take them, and Italy aren't receiving a hammering (yet) so points may be with us.

Set piece and defence has been our strength all tournament. So we'll probably go back to being conservative next week. Patchell's return increases our chances ten-fold of course...

As I say that, England go to Italys line, Italian starts throwing punches and gets carded, England penalty try and 31 - 0 with 20 to go...

Maybe points won't be with us!

Morg

For the first time in ages I don't think conservatism will help, the English backline have an absolute armchairs ride tonight and still look just ok, they make tons of mistakes and have fluffed 6/7 chances. When Italy go wide they make some real easy ground, although they are rubbish and it goes nowhere

Points were never going to be with us after our three opening games and England's 30 point win over France. Next week it's win or nothing.

Nice win for the Welsh young 'uns. Should give them some confidence for next week. England beware!!

I thought we were ahead on points before tonight? Have I misread somehting?

England are looking extremely poor out wide, defencively Italy are making easy ground, and the backline despite having an armchair ride with absolutely no Italian pressure are not only struggling to score but giving ball away. Italy have just scored fom 13 dopping the ball in his own 22, unde no pessue whatsoeve!!

Were Scotland missing their best players?They were pretty poor to be fair.Wales were better all over the park.Shame,really.

Is Patchell, Dixon, Amos and co expected back for next week? And should they be given starting spots after the last 4 games?

Patchell definitely should, not so sure about the others though. Unless you think it's best we stick Amos or Williams on the wing in place of Warren. I don't think anywhere else needs change, but with Dixon starting we might have a stronger defence in the backs.

Taffineastbourne wrote:Were Scotland missing their best players?They were pretty poor to be fair.Wales were better all over the park.Shame,really.

By a long chalk too and let's hope we keep most of these guys in Wales.
U20s rugby is great entertainment and far better than the Wales A stuff we used to have.
Daniel Thomas; talk about living on the edge or what!

Morg

Davies is playing ok mind, his goalkicking is good he just takes the long ones and wide ones on, wind tonight didn't help but he was good.

And Amos and Dixon I think I'd stick out on the wings possible, Dixon and Allen in the centre would lack a bit of flair don't you think?

I don't think so, Allen has plenty of flair. I just haven't been impressed with Hughes. Pascoe and Dixon are better. FYI, I think Davies has only played well in periods in the last three games. He is far too inconsistent. His poor kicking percentage and defence would be exposed by England. Also with Patchell we get a lot of pace, Davies doesn't have any!

He did make a few breaks tonight, but I see your points about Patchell being more of a line threat, and his goal kicking has been awesome for the blues!

How would you feel about a backline of...

9. Williams
10. Davies
11. Amos
12. Patchell
13. Allen
14. Dixon
15. Williams

???

Still has the weak link. I was thinking Williams, Patchell, Amos, Dixon/Pascoe, Allen, Robinson, Williams.

Missed the second half

Good win, nice to see Allen with another MOTM - future international if you ask me