Four Ospreys named to face Ireland

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)