Four Dragons tackle Georgian clash

07/07/2023

Head coach Mark Jones has named a starting side boasting three changes to the starting line-up and a positional switch for the clash against Georgia at Paarl Gymnasium on Sunday in the U20 World Rugby Championship. (Live S4C, 3pm UK) - and he includes four Dragons in his match day squad.

The winner of the match will then play the victor between Australia and New Zealand to determine fifth place in the championship next Friday.

Harri Houston switches from wing to full back after Cameron Winnett took a knock against France which rules him out of contention.

Llien Morgan comes in on the wing while Joe Westwood gets a first start of the campaign after impressing as a second half replacement in the defeat against France with Bryn Bradley dropping to the bench.

Lewis Lloyd replaces Sam Scarfe at hooker while Lewis Morgan will get his first slice of action as his substitute on the bench.

Georgia have impressed in the championship and only missed out on a top four spot by points difference and will fancy their chances of overturning last year’s defeat to Wales in the U20 Summer Series held in Italy.

"We’re in that knock-out scenario now we’re going to be fighting for that fifth ranking opportunity," said Jones.

"We want to give ourselves the best chance of fighting for that fifth and sixth spot final and we feel the selection keeps some cohesion within the group whilst freshening it up in a few positions as well.

"I’m always confident with this group of boys because I know they have got potential but sometimes it’s about how well you execute doing what you are trying to do. It’s going to be a battle of style for sure. The weather is due to be ok although it’s going to be a bit damp over the next couple of days so that could play a part.

"We’ll find out from our boys how passionate they are around how they want to give themselves a shot at finishing fifth – that’s the key for us. We’ve won one game, put in some decent performances in blocks but we are still waiting for that performance that we can look back on and say, ‘wow we got pretty much 80 to 90 per cent of that game nailed. We’re hoping all the time that this is the one."

Wales U20 v Georgia U20, Sunday 9 July, Paarl Gymnasium, KO 3pm (UK), S4C live

15 Harri Houston (Ospreys)

14 Tom Florence (Ospreys)

13 Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby)

12 Joe Westwood (Dragons RFC)

11 Llien Morgan (Ospreys)

10 Dan Edwards (Ospreys)

9 Archie Hughes (Scarlets)

1 Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (Dragons RFC)

2 Lewis Lloyd (Ospreys)

3 Kian Hire (Ospreys)

4 Liam Edwards (Ospreys)