Wales U20 excited by Aussie clash
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Wales Under-20 coaching co-ordinator Allan Lewis says his team is looking forward to their fifth-place play-off clash against Australia in the U20 World Cup on Saturday.
Lewis has made three changes from the side that beat Ireland 22-12 on Monday. Flyhalf Jarrod Evans [cheek] and centre Garyn Smith [hamstring] are out injured, with Scarlet Daniel Jones and Osprey's Joe Thomas coming taking their places in the starting line-up. The only other change sees Ryan Elias start at hooker.
"The team has progressed so much during the tournament that we didn’t want to make too many changes for this last game, other than the forced changes due to injury and at hooker, where Ryan and Liam [Belcher] have alternated in the starting fifteen," said Lewis.
"We are delighted to be playing Australia in what is a big game in terms of final tournament positions. Other than Japan, we have played only Six Nations games this season so we are thrilled to be able to have a crack at a southern hemisphere side."
Lewis said they are looking to end this year's tournament on a high.
"Having lost our opening two games, a good performance and result on Saturday would be a pleasing outcome from the remainder of the tournament.
"I feel it’s going to be a high scoring game. Our young coaches encourage an open, ball in hand game and from what I've seen of Australia, they like to play a wide game too.
"A number of the players from both sides played each other at Under-18 level in Wales two years ago which we won 26-12 scoring four tries, so our players can take some confidence from that. What is key is that we concentrate on our performance. If we continue to progress as a team then tries will come and the result will take care of itself," he added.
Wales Under-20: 15 Dafydd Howells, 14 Elis-Wyn Benham, 13 Joe Thomas, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Joshua Adams, 10 Daniel Jones, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Harrison Keddie, 7 Ollie Griffiths (captain), 6 Tom Philips, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Seb Davies, 3 Dillon Lewis, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Luke Garrett.
Replacements: 16 Torin Myhill, 17 Keagan Bale, 18 Joe Jones, 19 Lee Taylor, 20 Liam Belcher, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Lloyd Lewis, 23 Barney Nightingale.
Date: Saturday, June 20
Venue: Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: TBC
Assistant referees: TBC
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