Williams’ delight at potential of Wales youngsters
HEAD coach Gareth Williams is excited at the potential of his Wales U20 squad ahead of this season’s Six Nations.
Wales kick-off their campaign against Italy at Colwyn Bay tonight (7.35pm) before travelling to Ireland next weekend.
“It’s been a competitive camp over the last couple of months,” said Williams.
“We’ve got boys who have stayed on from last year, but also boys who have put their hands up for the first time. It’s always a big moment when we get to the actual first selection for the Six Nations. It’s a big part of the season.
“We’ve got quite a fresh coaching group as well so the initial stages have been about us bedding in and learning to work together. The boys have been fantastic and we are really bouncing off each other now having been together on a daily basis.
“On the coaching front, there have been a couple of new faces. Richard Kelly carries on from last year so he continues with the pack but we’ve brought in Gethin Jenkins under Richard Fussell which has added an element of learning to the group.
“I learned a lot at the World Cup about the structure of the tournament and how the group was set up. You go into the Six Nations wanting to win every game.
“We are very focused on what our development responsibility is within the union and within Welsh rugby, but whenever we take the field we want to win games. We are looking to put that into place and it’s about balancing that development and winning aspect.”
Scarlets openside flanker Jac Morgan will captain Wales at Stadiwm Zipworld in an extremely strong squad. Morgan is one of a nucleus of players returning from last season alongside Jac Price, Ben Warren, Ioan Davies, Dafydd Buckland, Sam Costelow and Aneurin Owen.
Williams has been impressed with the leadership of Brynamman man Morgan who has impressed in the Guinness PRO14 this season despite his tender years.
“Jac did really well last season with us and he’s kicked on this year,” said Williams. “He’s had some top-level involvement with the Scarlets and he’s really showing up well at senior level. Brad Mooar thinks the world of him and we are exactly the same in this environment.
“He was a leader within the group last year and it’s a little bit more official this year with him being captain. It’s going to be exciting to see how he responds in his second year.”
The match will be shown live on S4C. Wales U20s: J Thomas (Ospreys); D John (Millfield School), O Knott (Scarlets), A Owen (Dragons), E Rosser (Dragons); S Costelow (Leicester), D Buckland (Dragons); C Williams (Scarlets), D Booth (Scarlets), B Warren (Cardiff Blues), J Price (Scarlets), B Carter (Dragons), I Davies (Cardiff Blues), J Morgan (Scarlets, c), M Strong (Ospreys). Reps: W Griffiths (Dragons), T Bevacqua (Cardiff Blues), A Griffin (Bath), J Fender (Ospreys), T Huntley (Ospreys), E Bevan (Cardiff Met), L Scully (Worcester), B Roderick (Ospreys).