Wales U20s are intensifying their preparations for the World Rugby U20 Championship this summer with an uncapped warm-up fixture against Scotland U20s at Boroughmuir RFC in Edinburgh on Friday at 3pm.
Final Tune-Up Before Tournament
The match provides head coach Richard Whiffin with a last chance to refine his squad ahead of the competition later this month. Several players aim to impress before the final squad is announced next week.
Wales are placed in Pool A alongside hosts Georgia, defending champions South Africa, and Uruguay.
“We’ve had a really good three-week block where we split our focuses on unit-based work alongside individual development and we were lucky in that we had the heat wave so we got three or four sessions in what will be similar conditions out in Georgia,” said Whiffin.
“The boys then had a few days off and then we came in for our second block where we trained against the senior team on Monday.
“Both teams obviously needed it against different opposition, and it is always good to see the alignment working with the senior boys.”
Opportunities for New Faces
Whiffin has given chances to Ospreys back row Sam Morgan and Gloucester scrum-half Cai Gealy in a 30-man squad.
Eighteen-year-old Scarlets outside-half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones gets a start, while highly-rated Ospreys rising star Lewis Edwards is named at full-back.
Cardiff's Dylan Scott and Rhys Cummings are on the wings, with Sion Davies at scrum-half.
In the forwards, George Tuckley, James Talamai, and Jac Pritchard form a strong front row. Giant Scarlets lock Will Evans returns from injury to partner Tom Cottle in the second row.
Gloucester's Deian Gwynne captains the side from blindside flanker, while Morgan and Evan Minto complete the back row.
“The boys need some minutes and we need to test out some combinations for the World Cup,” said Whiffin.
“There is nothing like going out against an opposition that don’t know what you’re trying to do to get a feel on how you’re trying to work so it will be a valuable hit-out.
“They [Scotland] had a game against Ireland last week so they will be into their second game and ready to go so it will be a good test for us.”
Wales U20s Team to Face Scotland
Starting XV: Lewis Edwards (Ospreys); Dylan Scott (Cardiff Met), Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff), Jack Hoskins (Ospreys), Rhys Cummings (Cardiff); Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets), Sion Davies (Cardiff); George Tuckley (Dragons), James Talamai (Dragons), Jac Pritchard (Scarlets), Will Evans (Scarlets), Tom Cottle (Cardiff), Deian Gwynne (Gloucester), Sam Morgan (Ospreys), Evan Minto (Dragons).
Replacements: Oscar Thomas (Bath), Dylan James (Ospreys), Isaac Godfrey (Exeter Chiefs), Luke Evans (Exeter Chiefs), Osian Williams (Bristol Bears), Caio James (Gloucester), Alex Rigway (Bath), Cai Gealy (Bristol Bears), Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff), Tom Bowen (Cardiff), Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff), Bailey Cutts (Cardiff), Brogan Leary (Dragons), George Leyland (Bristol Bears), Tom Howe (Cardiff).
