U19 Grand Slam winners head for Dubai
Wales U19 team faces sternest test in World Cup opener
It probably doesn't get much tougher than kicking-off a World Cup against New Zealand, but that is what U19 Grand Slam winners Wales must do in the U19 Rugby World Cup in Dubai on Wednesday.
The Welsh sealed a superb Grand Slam with a 32-12 win over France in March, and also inflicted the first-ever defeat of Australia's Schoolbooys on Welsh soil in February, but the challenge of the All Blacks in Dubai is a totally new one, as head coach Justin Burnell explained.
"We have done our research on the conditions," said Burnell.
"Our biggest problem is going to be with sleep. We deliberately flew out ten days early to acclimatise this time, and we liaised with a 'sleep doctor' before we went.
"There is a loss of sleep pattern because of the four-hour time difference, and so there will be a period of persistent tiredness for the boys, made worse by the weather.
"The players face temperatures of 32 degrees, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, which will test them to the limit, but will be a terrific learning curve for future internationals who might have to play on the Highveld of South Africa, for example."
Current teams at U19 level are almost unrecognisable from years ago though, and all will be thoroughly prepared for the challenges ahead.
All of the players in the Wales U19 squad are affiliated to one of the regional academies, which have been a roaring success in getting a world-class team together, as Burnell explained.
"These lads coming through are now professional athletes," he said.
"Over the next few years, we are going to see the benefits of the academies, and this tournament will be a showcase for them.
"At Cardiff we have just contracted seven of our academy players, all of whom have been in the academy since they were 16 years old, and all of whom have played international rugby at U19 and U21 level.
"They have peers at the Blues now as well, people like Xavier Rush and Robert Sidoli, who keep the young boys in check perfectly.
"It has been great to keep players in that international buzz, all the way from U16 level to senior level, and the academies have been a great addition to Wales in that respect."
On Wednesday we will see just how far the academies have brought this Welsh team.
New Zealand were unlucky to be only runners-up in the last U19 tournament in South Africa after a pulsating final, and are tipped to be the team to beat at this year's tournament.
In many respects, this match is a final between North and South, and Burnell sees it as the ultimate test for his team.
"I think they have three of last year's team in this year's," he said.
"When preparing for these games, you have to look for patterns of play rather than players.
"But the New Zealand development structure and the Polynesian influence means that the team will always be good."
Wales won the U19 Grand Slam scoring 21 tries though, and this time Burnell feels they have more than just the flair out wide as well.
"It is good to have the ammunition out wide, and people see how much we do play," he said.
"But from a defensive point of view we are now very powerful as well. We have players like Bradley Davies, a lock who has played Celtic League rugby already. That is very impressive for such a young forward."
Davies is the captain of the team, which has several rising stars in it. One who particularly caught the eye in the Six Nations is Scarlets' full-back Martyn Thomas, who finished the tournament with six tries. But Burnell singled out two players who he felt were often under-valued by the press.
"Centre Ashley Smith is always one of the first names on the team-sheet, and another guy who never gets a mention is tighthead prop James Corsi. He could be one of the big finds of this tournament."
The U19 World Cup is being broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports.
