Dafydd Howells, Owen Watkin, Adam Beard and Joe Thomas all keep their places in the match day 23 as the Wales Under 20 side take on Ireland tonight (Monday 15th June) at 6.30pm UK time
While Rory Thornton has returned home to Wales for a medicalassessment on an injured knee, the four other Eyasses that beat Japan last week have kept their places in the match day 23 to take on Ireland in the fifth place semi final this evening.
Dafydd Howells, Owen Watkin, Adam Beard will all start while Joe Thomas, who came off the bench last Wednesday, is again named in the match day squad.
Coach
co-ordinator Allan Lewis said, “Spirits
are high after a very good win against Japan and it’s important the good work
that’s gone on in training translates to the game. Ireland certainly offer a
greater physical presence than Japan, especially defensively.
“The
Japan game, and the second half against England showed what we can do with the
ball in hand. We have also showed progress when it comes to the balance between
kicking, passing and running with the ball. However, we have to ensure we don’t
make the same mistakes as against France and England where we had such slow
starts, conceding easy penalties and points.”
If Wales
beat Ireland, they will face Australia or Scotland in the fifth place final on
Saturday.
“That
would be an achievement after losing our first two games. However, we can’t
afford to look further than Ireland. We must look after our performance and if
we do, the result will take care of itself.”
Wales U20 team v Ireland
(Monday, 6.30pm UK time, Viadana):
Dafydd
Howells (Ospreys/ Neath); Elis-Wyn Benham (Blues/ Cardiff), Garyn Smith (Blues/
Pontypridd), Owen Watkin (Ospreys/ Bridgend), Joshua Adams (Scarlets/
Llanelli); Jarrod Evans (Blues/ Pontypridd), Tomos Williams (Blues/
Pontypridd); Luke Garrett (Dragons/ Cross Keys), Liam Belcher (Blues/
Pontypridd), Dillon Lewis (Blues/ Pontypridd), Seb Davies (Blues/ Pontypridd),
Adam Beard (Ospreys/ Aberavon), Tom Phillips (Scarlets/ Llanelli), Ollie
Griffiths (capt, Dragons/ Newport), Harrison Keddie (Dragons/ Ebbw Vale)
Replacements: Torin Myhill (Scarlets/ Llanelli),), Keagan Bale (Dragons/ Cross Keys),
Joe Jones (Blues/ Cardiff), Lee Taylor (Carmarthen Quins), Ryan Elias
(Scarlets/ Carmarthen), Kieran Hardy (Scarlets/ Carmarthen), Daniel Jones
(Scarlets/ Carmarthen), Joe Thomas (Ospreys/ Swansea)