Wales at the JWC 2014

Wales Under 20 Junior World Championship squad 2014:

Forwards: Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Luke Garrett (Dragons), Nicky Thomas (Ospreys), Callum Lewis (Blues), Benjamin Leung (Scarlets), Ethan Lewis (Blues), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Scott Otten (Ospreys), Joe Davies (Dragons), Rory Thornton (Ospreys), Scott Andrews (Dragons), Will Boyde (Carmarthen), Olly Cracknell (RGC), Scott Matthews (Dragons), Ben Roach (Blues) James Benjamin (Dragons)

Backs: Tom Williams (Blues), Luc Jones, Angus O'Brien (both Dragons), Luke Price (Ospreys), Steffan Hughes (Scarlets), Jack Dixon (Dragons), Harri Evans (RGC), Tyler Morgan (Dragons), Joshua Adams (Scarlets), Dafydd Howells, Ashley Evans (both Ospreys), Hallam Amos (Dragons)

It's a good squad, a bit stronger than in the U20 Six Nations. Wales U20 should be very strong up front and will be looking dominate most teams there. I can see us reverting back to the style we played in last years JWC when we made the final. Wales' pool opponents in the 2014 JWC are Fiji, Ireland and France. France are our toughest opponents as we lost to them in the U20 6 Nations. Ireland will be much tougher to beat should the weather conditions be better than they were in Athlone, they'll throw the ball around and cause us some problems. Fiji should be swept aside and we hopefully get the TBP. Could likely be facing any one of Eng, SA, NZ if we make the top 4. We've beaten the latter 2 but have great difficulty when playing against England and usually lose.

Hopefully we'll keep this thread running throughout the tournament where we can report back on players, discuss results, prospects, etc.

Is that No.9, Tom Williams of the Blues, the one who has been playing most recently for the Regional team and putting in consistently excellent performances?

Great to see RGC1404 players emerging at junior and 7's levels. Taken Welsh rugby by storm in their first few seasons and look like runners up in the Welsh Championship below run away winners Ebbw Vale and above Pontypool.

rainbow-warrior wrote:Great to see RGC1404 players emerging at junior and 7's levels.  Taken Welsh rugby by storm in their first few seasons and look like runners up in the Welsh Championship below run away winners Ebbw Vale and above Pontypool.

Had to look that up (RGC1404). Good to see Wales in northern Wales is on the up. Here's a question for the Welsh boys on here. Looking at Wales record at the JWC it seems alright. Why hasn't it transferred to the regions? Is there something that happens between the academy level and club? I'm genuinely interested.

11 Dragons playing, chuffed with that, lets hope we can keep hold of them.

blackcanelion wrote:

rainbow-warrior wrote:Great to see RGC1404 players emerging at junior and 7's levels.  Taken Welsh rugby by storm in their first few seasons and look like runners up in the Welsh Championship below run away winners Ebbw Vale and above Pontypool.

Had to look that up (RGC1404). Good to see Wales in northern Wales is on the up. Here's a question for the Welsh boys on here. Looking at Wales record at the JWC it seems alright. Why hasn't it transferred to the regions? Is there something that happens between the academy level and club? I'm genuinely interested.

Their form is average, though in recent seasons has been a lot better now that we seem to putting out bigger forwards. And their form in the 6 Nations is probably average, they haven't won a tournament yet. No doubt we have some good individuals who make it to a pro contract, but they can't just come in and start turning over the likes of Toulon and Clermont.

How many of the squad has played for the regions? I recognise some names like Jack Dixon and Amos but don't know too much about the others.

Elliot Dee has played for the Dragons, Tyler Morgan played for us against the Ospreys - first Rabbo game and did very well - setup Ree's try.

munkian wrote:Elliot Dee has played for the Dragons, Tyler Morgan played for us against the Ospreys - first Rabbo game and did very well - setup Ree's try.

Cheers. Looking at the NZ squad a few of those have tasted super rugby, same with some of the baby Boks.

read that Tyler Morgan is a great prospect . nice to see them coming through . still wish we had an A side tho

profitius wrote:

munkian wrote:Elliot Dee has played for the Dragons, Tyler Morgan played for us against the Ospreys - first Rabbo game and did very well - setup Ree's try.

Cheers. Looking at the NZ squad a few of those have tasted super rugby, same with some of the baby Boks.

Yeah those playing for SA franchises now also played in last years tournament. Guess we'll have to beat the same lot again....  

profitius wrote:How many of the squad has played for the regions? I recognise some names like Jack Dixon and Amos but don't know too much about the others.

I believe Tom Williams has played quite often for the Blues, while the front row (Thomas, Otten, Smith) and Howells have played for the Ospreys.

We do have a good team there but the biggest challenge we have are the English U20's and have been for the past two years. They have always been that little bit better than us. Until this year where they were a county mile better than our disorganized squad. I understand we were looking at players to try them out but now they need a favored XV. The best thing we have at our disposal is our dominant scrum, our pack needs to build around that. A front row of Nicky Thomas, Scott Otten and Nicky Smith is already at a competitive level. The two props did it last year and the year before that Samson and Rob were at the helm and got us very far in the championship. I just believe it is the heart beat of that team and needs to be used to good effect.

The Saint wrote:Is that No.9, Tom Williams of the Blues, the one who has been playing most recently for the Regional team and putting in consistently excellent performances?

Nope, that is Lewis Jones and he is not under 20.

There is a FB/wing Tom Williams (brother of Lloyd) at the Blues,

However, this Tom Williams is Tomos Williams, a blues academy player with no senior games

http://www.cardiffblues.com/development/academy_squad.php

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:read that Tyler Morgan is a great prospect . nice to see them coming through . still wish we had an A side tho

Little disappointed that he seemingly isn't in our squad for the Scarlets game to be honest. I don't think he'll be in the Keys squad for Sunday, given that he's played for Newport, so it's a bit strange given that we don't have Ash or Wardle available and (at first glance) only have Leach and Dixon as out and out centres (with Robling as cover in theory).

Oops, I stand corrected. Shouldn't have flicked through the squad announcement earlier. Tyler Morgan is in the extended squad again   

Seems he wasn't originally named and there was a bit of a cheeky edit

From WalesOnline

Lyn is asked about the 11 Dragons in the Wales U20 JWC squad.



He says: “Good work from our academy.

We need to use those boys to build our future.

We have a rich seam of talent and must allow them to grow and go on to play for Wales.




Lyn dips a chocolate borubon biscuit into his coffee and says: “If you’re good enough you’re old enough.

There’s a group of Tyler Morgan's here we need to invest into and get them onto park.

The quicker they play, quicker they come through.

Good read his interview. Good to see they are looking to sign up Scott Matthews too. He is quality at 7.

It was funny though, that Tyler Morgan wasn't named in the squad and then appears in it later on from the Dragons.

Risca Rev wrote:Good read his interview. Good to see they are looking to sign up Scott Matthews too. He is quality at 7.

It was funny though, that Tyler Morgan wasn't named in the squad and then appears in it later on from the Dragons.

Nothing new, hardly on the ball press wise are we ?   

Rest of the stuff on WOL with Lyn is interesting too

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/ospreys-scarlets-cardiff-blues-dragons-7045943

I just put it on the Dragons thread. Quite long winded a post, but it saves reading all that Turk guff that is in between the interviews    

 

The Saint wrote:

blackcanelion wrote:

rainbow-warrior wrote:Great to see RGC1404 players emerging at junior and 7's levels.  Taken Welsh rugby by storm in their first few seasons and look like runners up in the Welsh Championship below run away winners Ebbw Vale and above Pontypool.

Had to look that up (RGC1404). Good to see Wales in northern Wales is on the up. Here's a question for the Welsh boys on here. Looking at Wales record at the JWC it seems alright. Why hasn't it transferred to the regions? Is there something that happens between the academy level and club? I'm genuinely interested.

Their form is average, though in recent seasons has been a lot better now that we seem to putting out bigger forwards. And their form in the 6 Nations is probably average, they haven't won a tournament yet. No doubt we have some good individuals who make it to a pro contract, but they can't just come in and start turning over the likes of Toulon and Clermont.

yes it is a big step up from U20's to senior level, how many of the england 20s are playing senior rugby regularly now? And even if they are they are spread over more clubs so have more experience to learn from etc

blackcanelion wrote:

rainbow-warrior wrote:Great to see RGC1404 players emerging at junior and 7's levels.  Taken Welsh rugby by storm in their first few seasons and look like runners up in the Welsh Championship below run away winners Ebbw Vale and above Pontypool.

Had to look that up (RGC1404). Good to see Wales in northern Wales is on the up. Here's a question for the Welsh boys on here. Looking at Wales record at the JWC it seems alright. Why hasn't it transferred to the regions? Is there something that happens between the academy level and club? I'm genuinely interested.

Because Wales are losing so many players to France and England the academy players are all getting chances at regional level. The problem is because the regions are so full of academy players they are not as successful as they were several season ago. They do show a lot of talent but not a lot of consistency.

Though to be fair far more players make it as professionals from the U20 squads than most other countries, simply because the vacancies are ahead of them with so many players leaving Wales. Though I am VERY worried a French division 2 club like Agen can just swoop in and take 22 year old Luke Hamilton away from Cardiff Blues. If that becomes a regular theme in our rugby were in massive trouble.

In preparation for the JWC Wales will play Scotland at the brewery field on Weds 14th May.

Wales U20: Afon Bagshaw (RGC); Tyler Morgan (Dragons), Harri Evans (RGC), Steffan Hughes (capt, Scarlets), Dafydd Howells (Ospreys); Angus O'Brien (Dragons), Luc Jones (Dragons); Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Nicky Thomas (Ospreys), Joe Davies (Dragons), Rory Thornton (Ospreys), Olly Cracknell (RGC), Scott Matthews (Dragons), James Benjamin (Dragons)

Replacements: Ethan Lewis (Blues), Luke Garrett (Dragons), Benjamin Leung (Scarlets), Scott Andrews (Dragons), Ben Roach (Blues), Connor Lloyd (Scarlets), Ethan Davies (Dragons), Jack Dixon (Dragons), Joshua Adams (Scarlets), Ashley Evans (Ospreys), Ollie Griffiths (Dragons), Scott Otten (Ospreys), Callum Lewis (Blues)

Scotland U20: Gavin Parker (Exeter Uni); Sam Pecqueur (Edinburgh Accies), Chris Dean (Edinburgh Accies/ Scotland Sevens), Neil Herron (Glasgow Hawks / Scotland Sevens), Damien Hoyland (Melrose); Rory Hutchison (Northampton Saints), Ben Vallacott (Worcester Warriors / Hartbury); Jack Cosgrove (Worcester Warriors), Sam James (London Wasps), D'arcy Rae (Ayr/ Galsgow Warriors), Andrew Cramond (Aberdeen Grammar), Glen Young (Newcastle Falcons), Neil Irvine-Hess (Watsonians/ Edinburgh Rugby), Tommy Spinks (capt, London Scottish), Gabriel Carroll (Loughborough Uni)

Replacements: Isaac Miller (Loughborough Uni), Phil Cringle (Edinburgh Accies/ Edinburgh Rugby), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Hawks), Lewis Carmichael (Melrose), Shaun MacDonald (Stirling County), Ruaridh Knott (Loretto School / Melrose), Hugh Fraser (Merchiston School), Blair Hutchinson (Loughborough Uni/ Melrose), Ruairidh Young (Edinburgh Accies), Ben Chalmers (Melrose), Gavin Lowe (Glasgow Warriors/ Glasgow Hawks), Jamie Farndale (Edinburgh Accies / Edinburgh Rugby)

Scott Otten might be a better option when we play against strong teams like NZ, SA and Eng.

anyone get to see the game last night?

I wanted to but was out. A win is a win, no matter how bad the opposition.

Dee impressed apparently. Would've thought that Tyler would have got on the score board


Wales Under-20s finalised their preparations for their Junior World Championship campaign with a comfortable win over Scotland in a warm-up fixture in Bridgend.

Head coach Byron Hayward would have been pleased with his side’s attacking intent as they crossed four times in total.

While not a perfect performance - Wales could have scored more tries - there were plenty of promising signs for Hayward’s men as they look ahead to clashes with Fiji, Ireland and France in New Zealand in June.

With perfect conditions in Bridgend, it was an entertaining first half with five tries in all. Scotland actually started and ended the scoring in the first 40 minutes, wing Sam Pecqueur with a double and fly-half Rory Hutchison adding a conversion.

But in between Pecqueur’s two efforts, Wales scored three tries of their own to take control. With their pack seemingly able to shove Scotland back at will, flanker Scott Matthews was shunted over for the first before wing Dafydd Howells showed fleet of foot to finish superbly. Replacement Luke Garrett added a third and with Angus O'Brien inch-perfect from the tee, Wales led 24-12 at the break.


The second half saw Wales soon add to their tally through centre Harri Evans, replacement fly-half Ethan Davies converting.

But with both sides looking at the game as a warm-up contest, a number of substitutions only served to stem the flow of the game. Full-back Ashley Evans did make an impact off the bench, setting up Evans’ score, but most of the second half was played in the middle third of the pitch.

Jack Dixon was yellow-carded for Wales and Scotland did have the last laugh, going the length of the field to score through Jamie Farndale.

But Wales’ margin of victory was more comfortable than the final scoreline suggested.

Wales Under-20s: Tries: Matthews, Howells, Garrett, Evans; Convs: O’Brien (3), Davies; Pen: O’Brien

Scotland Under-20s: Tries: Pecqueur (2), Farndale; Convs: Hutchison, Chalmers.

It's decent prep for a mixed squad I guess. We'll know how good they are by how many points they put past Fiji... And anyone else think that Hughes being captain stops our best midfield (Dixon and Moran) from getting a run out?

Moran or Morgan ?   

im pretty sure Williams the scrum half has played a senior game for the blues during the six nations period im sure it was the same weekend as the second international played on a thursday night and i know for sure callum lewis has played senior blues

Team for Fiji. Apparently our strongest, but no Scott Otten.

Wales: Ashley Evans (Ospreys); Tyler Morgan (Dragons), Steffan Hughes (captain, Scarlets), Jack Dixon (Dragons), Dafydd Howells (Ospreys); Angus O'Brien (Dragons), Luc Jones (Dragons); Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Ethan Lewis (Blues), Nicky Thomas (Ospreys), Joe Davies (Dragons), Rory Thornton (Ospreys), Olly Cracknell (RGC), Scott Matthews (Dragons), James Benjamin (Dragons)

Replacements: Elliot Dee (Dragons), Callum Lewis (Blues), Benjamin Leung (Scarlets), Ben Roach (Blues), Will Boyde (Carmarthen), Tom Williams (Blues), Ethan Davies (Dragons), Joshua Adams (Scarlets)

Game on now after Aus dealt to Argie.

SA versus the Scots also about 100km to the north.

great day for a public holiday!

well thats gotta be the fastest try in history. Wales in the corner after 7 seconds...!

The focus then turned to the try that they thought was the quickest ever, as Tom Voyce scored after 9.63 seconds against Harlequins in 2004 as (in studio guest) Will Greenwood dropped the ball from the kickoff.

As you'll see though, they got it wrong as they totally forgot about Lee Blackett's effort for Leeds Carnegie against Newcastle in 2008, coming in at an incredible 8.28 seconds.

There was another very quick try that was scored by John Leslie for Scotland against Wales in 1999, but that was over nine second if memory serves correctly, so we think we've got it right.

Does anyone know of any officially quicker than Blackett's though?

The above from part of an article in Rugbydump.

YES 7 seconds

Not certain why the commentator is bringing up the 6 Nations etc and how this is an advantage to NH teams!!! UNDER 20 WORLD CUP ... big clue there.

not over though...we have a match...14-5 to Wales with fiji conv. to come.

5 nil to Scotland over South Africa over at North Harbour.

Gotta love the attitude of some of these young guys, during the anthems the Young Scottish tight head prop sang Flower of Scotland with his mouthguard in, he wasnt going to be caught not ready.Love it.

perhaps the fijians should have taken a leaf?

19 - 5 Wales great vision great try.

Great try Fiji under the posts will be 19 - 12

29 - 12 half time. Game over as a contest I hope.

2nd Penalty try 36 -12 to a dominant Wales.

43 - 12

43 - 19 A Fiji come back...yeah ............naaaaaaaaaaaaaa:)

48 - 19 FT

Good quality from both winning teams. They said the SA side has been together for two months? Including a 3 match series vs Argie? geez? What have our boys been doing? going to school?

Were Fiji decent with ball in hand then? Nice bonus point win from our boys I guess, need to step it up against France and Ireland though.

The Saint wrote:Were Fiji decent with ball in hand then? Nice bonus point win from our boys I guess, need to step it up against France and Ireland though.

Made some good breaks but the Welsh lads were very good in defence. Lot's more in the tank for Wales and we did not see the best from the backs because the pack was so dominant.

It's a decent pack, but I don't think the back 5 were that good in the 6 Nations. The backs are pretty average I'd say, but would be a lot better with Dixon/Morgan in the centre and Amos at full back.

The game against Fiji is about to start on S4C. It better be good as I'm missing Game of Thrones for this!