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All 7 Academy members named in Wales 22

All seven Dragons Academy members have been named in the Wales U19 22 who take on New Zealand in the opening round of their IRB U19 World Championship campaign.

Kath McCarthy | 04/04/2006

All seven Dragons Academy members have been named in the Wales U19 22 who take on New Zealand in the opening round of their IRB U19 World Championship campaign at the Dubai Exiles RFC on Wednesday (kick-off 3.15 pm BST).

Head Coach Justin Burnell is content to say "same again" to the team who clinched the Grand Slam with a 32-12 victory over France last month as Bradley Davies and his team-mates tackle the young All Blacks before going on to play Scotland four days later and then Romania on 13 April.

Ashley Smith, James Lewis, Rob Lewis, Jamie Corsi and Lewis Evans all start the game while Jimmy Norris and Gareth Maule are named on the replacements bench.

"South Africa are the reigning U19 champions but New Zealand have dominated this tournament over the last six years and, while we are not over-awed, it would be a major achievement to beat them," said Burnell.
"However, we are not here for the sight-seeing or to make up the numbers - there is no logic in that - and we need to keep the momentum of our journey going."

That journey has, so far, seen Wales' senior stars of the future beat England 13-10, Scotland 48-10, Ireland 31-6, Italy 32-18 and France after kicking off their campaign with an historic 27-7 victory over Australia Schools - the young Wallabies' first Test defeat on Welsh soil.

"We are back to the team that started this campaign with the win over Australia as we feel it is our strongest line-up," said Burnell. "We will go into the match in a positive frame of mind because we are here to make a statement about Welsh rugby and to play to our potential - we are here to win. That confidence has helped us so far and I'm sure it will be an aspect of the team that will continue to help us progress. Physically, technically and mentally, this side has really got everything you could ask for."

Wales Under-19: Martyn Thomas (Scarlets); Alec Jenkins (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Ashley Smith (Dragons), James Lewis (Dragons); Rhys Jones (Sale / Exiles), Robert Lewis (Dragons); Hugh Gustafson (Scarlets), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Jamie Corsi (Dragons), Bradley Davies (Blues, captain), Lou Reed (Scarlets), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Daniel Franks (Blues), Lewis Evans (Dragons).
Replacements: Keiron Jenkins (Blues), Nicholas Eaves (Blues), James Down (Blues), Marc Breeze (Ospreys), Gareth Maule (Dragons), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Darren Allinson (Scarlets), Matthew Larsen (Blues), Marc Jones (Exiles), Jimmy Norris (Dragons), Sam Kiley (Ospreys).

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