Wales U20 2020

The U20s squad for the 6N is announced. There are a few names from last year still available, some of which have gone on to play senior rugby with their clubs. A notable exclusion is Louis Rees-Zammit who is with the Wales seniors. Copied and pasted from the WRU:

Wales U20 squad for Six Nations 2020
Full-backs/Wings:
Dan John (Millfield School), Josh Thomas (Ospreys), Ewan Rosser (Dragons), Callum Williams (Scarlets), Harri Doel (Scarlets)
Centres:
Bradley Roderick(Ospreys), Aneurin Owen (Dragons), Osian Knott (Scarlets)
Fly-halves:
Sam Costelow (Leicester Tigers), Luke Scully (Worcester), Jacob Beetham (Cardiff Blues), Ioan Lloyd (Bristol)
Scrum-halves:
Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Met), Dafydd Buckland (Dragons)
Back row:
Travis Huntley (Ospreys), Morgan Strong (Ospreys), Gwilym Bradley (Cardiff Blues), Ioan Davies (Cardiff Blues), Jac Morgan (Scarlets – CAPT), Benji Hoppe (Dragons)
Second Row:
James Fender (Ospreys), Rhys Thomas (Ospreys), Ben Carter (Dragons), Jac Price (Scarlets)
Props:
Theo Bevacqua (Cardiff Blues), Ben Warren (Cardiff Blues), Callum Williams (Scarlets), Archie Griffin (Bath), Harri O Connor (Scarlets), Dylan Bartlett (Dragons)
Hookers:
Dom Booth (Scarlets), Will Griffiths (Dragons), Brodie Coghlan Dragons)

Wales U20 Six Nations fixtures
Fixtures
Friday 31st January 2020
Wales vs Italy, Zipworld Stadium, KO 19:35
Fri 7 February 2020
Ireland v Wales, Irish Independent Park, KO 19:15
Friday 21st February 2020
Wales vs France, Zipworld Stadium, KO 19:35
Friday 13th March 2020
Wales vs Scotland, KO 19:35
Fri 6 March 2020
England v Wales, Kingsholm KO 19:45

Dan John is Paul John's son, so Twitter tells me. I wonder if Ewan Rosser is Jared Rosser's brother, seeing as he's back three.

A healthy Dragons representation there!

Great start to the weekend. Italy are pretty handy at this level at the moment

Thought Basham might have been included here as he's not in the senior squad. He'd still be eligible at 20, right? He's in no man's land a bit stuck between senior and age grade. Perhaps he's on the back up list for the seniors?

The Oracle wrote:Thought Basham might have been included here as he's not in the senior squad. He'd still be eligible at 20, right? He's in no man's land a bit stuck between senior and age grade. Perhaps he's on the back up list for the seniors?

As it is a development team I think they try to give opportunities to players not already excelling at PRO14. So that we increase the pool of players.

Not all the teams abide by the same code of conduct but I’m glad we do.

Yeah fair enough! Guess he's past that now and looking to push for senior honours (not too far off but very competitive in his position).

The Oracle wrote:Yeah fair enough! Guess he's past that now and looking to push for senior honours (not too far off but very competitive in his position).

Yes was similar with a number of other players as talented as him. Cracking prospect and so young that although there is congestion above him, what is he fourth or fifth choice openside, he is young enough to be there when there are less players above him.

It’s really important that all players keep striving to be better and make their case for selection unanswerable.

Delighted for Dylan Bartlett. Hope he goes well. Nice to see a few other young Dragons in there too.

3 centres but four flyhalfs? Are the under 20s going to deviate from the senior team and opt for a 10/12 playmaker combo. Perhaps Costelow and Lloyd.

Perhaps, or maybe Lloyd will feature at full-back, they'd be stupid not to try it after seeing what he can do there. There will probably be wholesale changes for at least one game.

mikey_dragon wrote:Perhaps, or maybe Lloyd will feature at full-back, they'd be stupid not to try it after seeing what he can do there. There will probably be wholesale changes for at least one game.

The last few years it’s been almost a different team each match they have had so much rotation. The six nations is used as a testing ground for the JRWC

Looks like a strong team for Friday


Josh Thomas (Ospreys); Dan John (Millfield School), Osian Knott (Scarlets), Aneurin Owen (Dragons), Ewan Rosser (Dragons); Sam Costelow (Leicester Tigers), Dafydd Buckland (Dragons); Callum Williams (Scarlets), Dom Booth (Scarlets), Ben Warren (Cardiff Blues), Jac Price (Scarlets), Ben Carter (Dragons), Ioan Davies (Cardiff Blues), Jac Morgan (Scarlets, capt), Morgan Strong (Ospreys).

Replacements: Will Griffiths (Dragons), Theo Bevacqua (Cardiff Blues), Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby), James Fender (Ospreys), Travis Huntley (Ospreys), Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Met), Luke Scully (Worcester), Bradley Roderick (Ospreys).



https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/10-welsh-rugby-stars-future-17640388

No Ioan Lloyd. Did Bristol refuse, or are we just saving him for later? Dan John is the only player not playing for an academy, that wouldn’t have anything to do with his dad now, would it?

I don’t think that the clubs are allowed to restrict youth players from international representation...?

With Protheroe, Sheedy and Thomas already regular starters for Brizzle they are doing well for welsh players. They keep excelling and all four might soon be in the welsh senior squad.

Kick off 1945 on S4c..!

Bad start by Booth, messing his first two throws up. Lovely try though. Italy started pretty well.

Trust us to get the shocking ref.

He is bad. Italy’s illegal jackalling is something that is being let go, nearly every contact situation.

Yeah that and the early drives at the scrum is too obvious. Wales U20 don’t look so good anyway. They look very poor actually.

Very poor indeed.

This team is absolutely shocking.

The worst and slowest lineout I’ve ever seen, which Italy just picked off again.

The whole pack are awful really. Whilst I’ve mentioned the ref missing things, they’re far too isolated all the time anyway. This is really poor.

Everything about it is poor. Parc Eirias is garbage too.

This team looks too small as well, so they have to be favourites for the wooden spoon based on tonight. I’d be interested to see how Italy go again France though, it should tell us how good they are.

Italy have been half decent at U20 level for a few years now, they produce a decent amount of big physically developed kids who can hold there own and have good skills.

They do seem to struggle bringing these kids through into the pro game though. If they can ever start to manage it, they will become competitive.

I guess the only positives to take out of this is that the team we put out was not the strongest it could be. The likes of Dewi Lake, Rio Dyer, Taine Basham are all technically eligible for the U20s (I think..... they're all still 20). There's Rees-Zammit too. Plus a load more I'm sure. But as they've already made it as senior players with pro contracts I guess they're not deemed to be in need of 'unearthing' or exposing, which the U20s is designed for. Not sure if that's the same for Italy? Hopefully not, and this is the best Italy have!

The lads need a rocket up the backside this week. No disrespect to a very good Italian team but these players are better and should not be losing in that manner. Not a great start to the weekend

Bristol have released Ioan this week. Hopefully a better result and a stronger performance in Cork tonight

Ireland U20: 15 Oran McNulty; 14 Ben Moxham, 13 Dan Kelly, 12 Hayden Hyde, 11 Andrew Smith; 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Lewis Finlay; 1 Marcus Hanan, 2 Tom Stewart, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 4 Thomas Ahern, 5 Brian Deeny, 6 Sean O’Brien, 7 Mark Hernan, 8 David McCann (capt).

Subs: 16 John McKee, 17 Harry Noonan, 18 Charlie Ward, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Cian Prendergast, 21 Ben Murphy, 22 Tim Corkery, 23 Luis Faria.

Wales U20: 15 Ioan Lloyd (Bristol Bears), 14 Daniel John (Millfield School), 13 Osian Knott (Scarlets), 12 Aneurin Owen (Dragons), 11 Ewan Rosser (Dragons), 10 Sam Costelow (Leicester Tigers), 9 Dafydd Buckland (Dragons); 1 Theo Bevacqua (Cardiff Blues), 2 Will Griffiths (Dragons), 3 Ben Warren (Cardiff Blues), 4 Jac Price (Scarlets), 5 Ben Carter (Dragons), 6 Ioan Davies (Cardiff Blues), 7 Jac Morgan (capt, Scarlets), 8 Morgan Strong (Ospreys).

Subs: 16 Dom Booth (Scarlets), 17 Callum Williams (Scarlets), 18 Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby), 19 James Fender (Ospreys), 20 Gwilym Bradley (Cardiff Blues), 21 Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Met), 22 Bradley Roderick (Ospreys), 23 Josh Thomas (Ospreys).



https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/ireland-under-20-versus-wales-17710578

So far, no.

Not a great start

They don’t seem smart at all.

Some lovely rugby from Ireland. But poor from Wales. Not sure if it's poor Wales attack or good Ireland defence, probably both, but Wales just seem to be trying to crash it up. Just seen both 10 and 12 for wales both trying to smash the man rather than hit the gap and both being wrapped up and driven back. Change tactics, boys.

I think Wales look badly coached, can’t seem to string at attack together. The front-row is the worst I’ve seen at this level. On a side note, what’s Dan John doing in this team? Looks out of his depth.

Ireland are solid in defence and clinical. It’s more than enough so far, they didn’t really have to work for two of their tries.

Dan John = son of ex player. That’s all it takes. I championed Dylan Bartlett, but I hope he doesn’t get involved with this rabble, this year.

Wales Under-20s: Jacob Beetham (Cardiff Blues), Frankie Jones (Aberavon), Bradley Roderick (Ospreys), Aneurin Owen (Dragons), Mason Grady (Cardiff Blues), Sam Costelow (Leicester Tigers), Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Met); Theo Bevacqua (Cardiff Blues), Will Griffiths (Dragons), Ben Warren (Cardiff Blues), James Fender (Ospreys), Ben Carter (Dragons), Ioan Davies (Cardiff Blues), Jac Morgan (Scarlets - Captain), Morgan Strong (Ospreys)

Replacements: Dom Booth (Scarlets), Callum Williams (Scarlets), Harri O'Connor (Scarlets), Ed Scragg (Dragons), Gwilym Bradley (Cardiff Blues), Dafydd Buckland (Dragons), Joe Hawkins (Ospreys), Luke Scully (Worcester Warriors)

The team for England. Honestly from what I've seen I give us no chance.

I think if Wales want to make a mark at the JWC then we should probably promote some U18s. I can think of a few I'd put in.

Or call up some of the already-pro 20 year olds such as Rees-Zammitt and Basham! That would stand us in better stead for the Jnr World Cup. But can understand why they wouldn’t.

The Oracle wrote:Or call up some of the already-pro 20 year olds such as Rees-Zammitt and Basham!  That would stand us in better stead for the Jnr World Cup. But can understand why they wouldn’t.  

It’s tough because so many of the other teams do pick players who are under 20 but playing full time in their top league at big clubs.

Basham might be too old now? Rees-Zammit is 19 though, he’s one id call up.

YAn unexpected 22-23 win for Wales. Fair play to the young boyo’s beating France and now england with the worst front row I’ve seen them have at this level. I would still make some big changes for the JWC however, Carwyn and Christ just two examples.

Great result. The only England v Wales game that matters, this weekend

mikey_dragon wrote:YAn unexpected 22-23 win for Wales. Fair play to the young boyo’s beating France and now england with the worst front row I’ve seen them have at this level. I would still make some big changes for the JWC however, Carwyn and Christ just two examples.

The England pack has been struggling this year. Scrum hasn't been laying down any markers and outright suffered Vs Scotland. I'm not sure about the coaching this year either, defence looks poorly organised leading to poor discipline. Too reliant on individual brilliance.

Speaking of individual brilliance I saw the highlights of Costelow's score. He's going to be some player. Gutted he's leaving Leicester so soon. You can see the influence Ant Allen and George Ford have had on his development.

Good win for Wales.

The U20s seems very competitive all round this year, everybody seems to be able to beat everyone else on their day and most games have been close.

Bizarre set of results - lose to Italy at home then beat England away! Good work though lads

mikey_dragon wrote:Basham might be too old now? Rees-Zammit is 19 though, he’s one id call up.

I thought he was 20, which would still make him eligible I think. I can see why then don’t select those who have broken through, but would really help u20 results if they could select them!

I’m not sure what the cut off point is, I thought it was a certain month. I’d certainly pick him for the JWC if he’s available. Jac Morgan has been a bit meh when expectations were high. Morgan Strong looks as if he could pick up a contract in the near future though.

Admittedly I missed this game, but up to this point I was thinking we have some promising locks.

Any idea why this game wasn’t televised. I couldn’t find it anywhere.

Sky had it. It was on Sky Sports Mix (the free one too though, I think).

Cheers Risca, missed that, didn’t think Sky had any coverage rights...yet.

mikey_dragon wrote:Honestly from what I've seen I give us no chance.

Great call.

mikey_dragon wrote:I think if Wales want to make a mark at the JWC then we should probably promote some U18s.

Phone up the WRU and let them know where they're going wrong.

mikey_dragon wrote:Jac Morgan has been a bit meh when expectations were high.

Another top call. The captain who's led the team and been the best player on the pitch in losing efforts.

Great rugby judgement all round. Drop the best players on the back of passive observation on TV and bring in 17 and 18 year olds. I hope you're not a coach in the WRU system (if RFU then by all means carry on)!