Dragons RFC back row Ryan Jones was among the scorers as Wales Under-19 bounced from last week’s defeat to Ireland with an emphatic 60-7 victory against an outgunned and outclassed Italy at the Wern, Merthyr this afternoon.
Wales were in the ascendancy from the outset and led 38-7 at the break and continued at breakneck speed in the second half to keep the visitors scoreless while adding another 22 points in a commanding display.
Blockbusting flanker Caio James led the way with a hat-trick in a 10-try rout while prop Jac Pritchard, winger Dylan Scott, centre Osian Darwin-Lewis and Jones raced over for first half tries. Evan Morris and James along with Scott and replacement hooker James Talami - who will join Dragons next season - sealed the deal with second half tries with the remaining points coming via the boots of Math Jones and Steff Jac Jones.
“We challenged the boys to go up a gear individually and as a group after last week’s defeat to Ireland,” said Wales head coach Richard Whiffin,
“I think we certainly saw that. We challenged them around their training standards and how they prepare for international matches.
“We put a team to the sword today with lots of good individual performances but the pleasing thing from a team perspective was we saw what we had been working hard on in training, being put out on the field.
“Our lineouts and scrums gave us a good set-piece to work off and from that the backs exploited that space.”
With Italy unable to contain the rampant boys in red, a number of players were able to give Whiffin a reminder of their potential as he begins to pencil in his world cup squad for the summer.
“The midfield was impressive, Osian Darwin-Lewis and Lewis Edwards were solid in midfield – I was really impressed with them, and they will challenge the boys in the 20s going forward.”
Whiffin said the two U19 games against Ireland and Italy were a worthwhile exercise.
“The first thing is it is about opportunity – we got to see 28-29 different players over the two weeks,” he said.
“Some guys had a little involvement around the U20s and some are brand new in to the pathway so for us to build a bit more depth looking ahead to next year is invaluable.
“Players are at different parts in their journey – some are here trying to put their hands up for the world cup and others are trying to put them up to be here next year. We saw some really good performances, especially the second row where Luke Evans and Tom Cottle were brilliant both weeks to put their hands up.”
Whiffin’s focus is now on the summer’s World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy where his side will face France, Argentina and Spain in Pool B.
