Richie Pugh is hoping his Wales Under-18 side can build on their highly promising opening day win over the Irish by adding the Georgian scalp at the Six Nations Festival in Vichy on Monday.
The Welsh youngsters triumphed 32-24 with tries from Brogan Leary, Carter Pritchard, Tom Howe and Kai Jones and now face a Georgian side that were beaten 37-24 by Italy in their first outing.
Head coach Pugh has made sweeping changes for the second of three rounds of matches. Wales end with a clash against Italy on Friday 18 April. All 11 replacements from the game against Ireland get a start on Monday and skipper Cerrig Smith switches numbers in the back row from No 6 to No 8.
Scarlets lock Kai Jones is another survivor up front, while behind the scrum Bath centre Jack Harrison once again starts, while Cardiff back three start Rhys Cummings switches from full back to wing.
“It was pleasing to win the first game especially as we went down early and had to fight our way back. They set out with a game plan, were disciplined and they managed the game well against a quality Irish team,” said Pugh.
“We had a 10-point lead at half time and then kicked a penalty to make it 20-7. At that stage the boys could have thought the game was done, but the Irish hit back with two quick and slightly fortunate tries.
“That got them back into the game, but the boys showed a lot of maturity to get back and task and execute what we needed to do. We always knew it was going to be a real arm wrestle and we kept on fighting.
“We were the fourth game on in the day but the pitch was still in great condition. Now it is a case of learning and understanding how it went so well and where we can get better. We probably left 15 or so points out there and could have had a more commanding lead.
“Our line out is an area for improvement, but the defensive efforts and game management was very impressive.”
The Georgians were the surprise package at the tournament last year and will have been disappointed at losing to an Italian side that had beaten Wales in a warm-up fixture for the Festival. Having beaten France and almost turned over England 12 months ago they are a side Pugh knows will present a huge challenge.
“Georgia will be hurting after their performance against Italy. They are big, hard men and play a different sort of game to us, which is pretty brutal,” he added.
“We’ve made a lot of changes, which was always the plan, and we need to be smart in what we do. They have a dominant pack and they are direct, hard and physical behind as well.
“There is a different pressure on the boys now and we will need a big performance. We saw last year after they lost to Scotland in their first game they came out and beat France and should have beaten England.
“They might be an invitational side into this tournament but we know they are a very strong team. We will have to be at our best to get another positive result.”
Wales U18 (v Georgia): Ben Coomer (Cardiff); Brogan Leary (Dragons), Jack Harrison (Bath), Jack Hoskins (Ospreys), Rhys Cummings (Cardiff); Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff), Luca Woodyatt (Gloucester); George Leyland (Bristol Bears), Tiaan Hall (Dragons), Jayden Maybank (Ospreys), Kai Jones (Scarlets),Gabe Williams (Cardiff), Morgan Crew (Yorkshire Academy), Tiehi Chatham (Dragons), Cerrig Smith (Dragons, captain)
Replacements: Dylan Barrett (Cardiff), Tom Howe (Cardiff), Nathan Davies (Scarlets), Osian Williams (Bristol Bears), Alfie Prygodzicz (Cardiff), Carter Pritchard (Dragons), Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets), Rhys Cole (Dragons). Noah Morgan (Dragons), Bailey Cutts (Cardiff), Noah Williams (Bristol Bears)
