Wales U20s remain unbeaten in this season's World Rugby Junior World Championship after a convincing 47-0 victory over Uruguay U20s. The win sets up a crucial pool decider against defending champions South Africa on Tuesday for a place in the top-four semi-finals.
Dominant first-half performance
Richard Whiffin made wholesale changes following his side's narrow victory over Georgia U20s, but despite some inaccuracies, Wales had far too much for Uruguay. They scored seven tries in total, with Steffan Emanuel crossing twice, along with scores from Oscar Thomas, Alex Ridgway (twice), Brogan Leary, and Tom Bowen. Lloyd Lucas and Carwyn Leggatt-Jones kicked 12 points between them.
Emanuel opened the scoring with a lovely long pass from Lucas putting the Cardiff man over out wide. The Wales pack was on top throughout, and Bath hooker Thomas claimed their second try off the back of a well-worked driving lineout.
Second-half tries seal victory
Bath backrower Ridgway hit a strong angle to power over for their third try before Emanuel touched down on the stroke of half-time to give Wales a commanding 26-0 lead at the interval. Wales took 10 minutes to score their first try of the second half, and it was Ridgway again who powered over from short-range. Dragons wing Leary hit a tremendous angle soon after to run in unopposed from 45 metres out, and Bowen scored with a sensational finish out wide.
Whiffin acknowledged the need for improvement, saying, "We will have to be far better when we face defending champions South Africa on Tuesday." The match will determine which team advances to the semi-finals.
