Dragons’ gifted and explosive full back Jason Tovey has been moved to outside half to call the shots for Wales Under 20 in their Six Nations game against England at the Brewery Field, Bridgend, on Friday night (7.10pm).
Wales Under 20 head coach Phil Davies has made four personnel and two positional changes for his side's second match in the 2009 tournament.
"We have chosen some new combinations behind the scrum for this game that should give us an extra dimension tactically”, said Davies. “While we were disappointed with the result on Friday night, we were pleased with the effort shown and with the maturity the boys have shown since the defeat and I'm sure they have learned a great deal from the experience.”
Up front, Dragons prop Aaron Coundley gets his first start in the tournament at loose head in place of Dan Watchurst.
”Aaron Coundley's inclusion should give us some extra intensity and mobility in the front five,” added Davies. "And the changes will mean we can blood some more players during this championship which is important as we move towards the Junior World Championship.
"The ultimate aims for this management team are to give the players a good grounding in what it takes, not only to be successful as a team, but to develop them into potential regional and international players."
“There is huge determination from the players to perform well at Bridgend on Friday night and get a win against England.”
The Wales Under 20 squad are due to hold an open training session at the Brewery Field tomorrow (Tuesday, 10 February) at 1.15pm. Schools and supporters are welcome to attend, while tickets for Friday night's match will be on sale at the ground, both during the open training session and at Bridgend's match against Bedwas tomorrow evening.
Tickets for Wales Under 20 v England, Friday 13 February, 7.10pm, Brewery Field Bridgend are available from:
- WRU shop, Gate 3, Westgate Street (Mon - Sat 9.30 - 5pm)
- Ticketline, Westgate Street, Cardiff (Mon - Sat 9 - 5.30pm, phone bookings can be made by calling 02920 230130)
- Bridgend RFC on Tuesday 10 February 1 - 4pm (open Under 20 training session) and at the Bridgend v Bedwas Principality Premiership match in the evening
- www.ticketmaster.co.uk Tickets will be on sale via Ticketmaster until Wednesday
- Tickets are £5 for juniors and students, £10 and £15 for adults
Wales Under 20 team v England
James Loxton (Blues academy / Glamorgan Wanderers); Kristian Phillips (vice-capt, Ospreys / Neath), Scott Williams (Scott Williams /Llanelli), Ashley Beck (Ospreys / Aberavon), Adam Hughes (Dragons academy / Bedwas); Jason Tovey (Dragons), Rhys Downes (Blues academy / Pontypridd); Aaron Coundley (Dragons academy / Ebbw Vale), Rhys Williams (Blues academy / Pontypridd), Scott Andrews (Blues academy / Glamorgan Wanderers), James King (Ospreys academy / Aberavon), Ashley Sweet (Dragons academy / Cross Keys), Jake Thomas (Cardiff), Josh Navidi (Blues academy / Glamorgan Wanderers), James Thomas (capt, Dragons academy / Ebbw Vale)
Replacements:
Simon Gardiner (Scarlets academy / Llanelli), Craig Attwell (Dragons academy / Newbridge), Dan Watchurst (Dragons academy / Bedwas, Sam Pailor (Pontypool), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys academy / Aberavon), Tavis Knoyle (Neath), Matthew Jarvis (Ospreys academy / Neath)
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