Five Dragons named in Wales U20s to face Samoa

Following hard-fought defeats to Australia and England in Pool A, Jason Strange’s side are aiming to claim their first group stage victory, against Samoa, before the play-offs.

Katie Vizard | 07/06/2017

In total Strange has made six changes – two up front and four behind the pack. In the forwards Owen Hughes is handed a first start of the tournament at hooker and Callum Bradbury returns from the bench.

He has rotated his half-backs with Reuben Morgan-Williams and Ben Jones starting and they are joined by Joe Goodchild and Phil Jones in the back three.

Strange said: “With the short turnaround in games and two really tough, physical games against England and Australia, which were at a high standard, this is an opportunity to freshen the squad up.

“We have a number of players who have done really well off the bench and they were excellent against England. The squad is in good spirits and everyone is fully fit apart from the usual little niggles.

“Performance over all is what we judge ourselves on and we have been pleased so far, it is just one or two corrections. International rugby is about small margins and if we are a little more accurate and make the right decisions under pressure then we should be okay.”

Wales sit above Samoa, who have also lost to Australia and England, in Pool A due to their superior points difference and Strange expects a physical encounter.

But he is determined to see his Wales U20s side finish the group stages on a high before embarking on the play-offs for ranking places.

He added: “We want to finish the group with another good performance against Samoa, who will provide a real physical challenge and pushed Australia all the way.”

Elsewhere in the squad Cameron Lewis has recovered from the minor injury that ruled him out of the England clash to take a place on the bench.

Wales U20 to face Samoa U20:

15 Phil Jones (Ospreys)

14 Jared Rosser (Newport Gwent Dragons)

13 Ioan Nicholas (Scarlets)

12 Owen Lane (Cardiff Blues)

11 Joe Goodchild (Newport Gwent Dragons)

10 Ben Jones (Cardiff Blues)

9 Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys)

1 Rhys Carre (Cardiff Blues)

2 Owen Hughes (Newport Gwent Dragons)

3 Kieron Assiratti (Cardiff Blues)