Changing times for Strange’s Under-20s

AVCHALA STADIUM 10am WALES U20 v SAMOA U20 WALES have rung the changes for their World Rugby U20 Championship clash with 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 before the play-offs.

In total, Strange has made eight changes – two up front and six 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.

The coach has rotated his halfbacks, 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. Performance overall 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 OK.”

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 U20 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.” Wales U20: P Jones (Ospreys); J Rosser (Newport Gwent Dragons), I Nicholas (Scarlets), O Lane (Cardiff Blues), J Goodchild (Newport Gwent Dragons); B Jones (Cardiff Blues), R Morgan-Williams (Ospreys); R Carre (Cardiff Blues), O Hughes (Newport Gwent Dragons), K Assiratti (Cardiff Blues); C Bradbury (Cardiff Blues), S Moore (Pontypridd), S LewisHughes (Cardiff Blues), Will Jones (Ospreys, c), A Ward (Cardiff Blues). Reps: E Shipp (Newport Gwent Dragons), T Mably (Cardiff Blues), S Thomas (Scarlets), W Griffiths (Ospreys), J Botham (Cardiff Blues), D Blacker (Cardiff Blues), C Lewis (Cardiff Blues).