Posted by When it comes to the Wales U20 squad that will commence their World Rugby U20 Championship campaign on Saturday, experience is somewhat at a premium.
Of the 30-man touring party only 12 are into their second year of playing at this level, while only five of those have won more than 10 caps in U20 internationals. Two of those: Ryan Woodman and Morgan Morse, are not even set to graduate the U20 set up this year as they began playing a year early.
So the pool of final year experience is a small one, and leading it is the man who has started at full-back in each of the last 10 fixtures played by Wales U20; Cameron Winnett.
Winnett has been a name to watch out for since his days in the Cardiff age grade system, catching the eye at outside centre before really breaking through as a winger for the Rags and then starting at full-back away at Harlequins during the Heineken Champions Cup misfits week back in December 2021.
His try scoring performance that day marked him out as a seriously exciting talent and his development has continued at a rate of knots with three appearances for the Blue and Blacks first team, 29 outings for the Rags and 14 caps for Wales U20, winning an Indigo Group Premiership and Welsh Cup along the way.
So what sets him apart? Well at the heart of it is an undying attacking outlook that can see him take a high tactical kick in a tense game against England and immediately look for the outside break. Few players that I’ve seen have the natural flair and confidence in their own ability to consistently look to play on the front foot like Winnett does.
There are moments where this sees him get into trouble, sometimes isolated in the back field and putting his team on the back foot, but it’s not something you want the 20-year-old to lose. Instead, as he continues to play and gain experience, the decision making around when to attack and when to suppress that will improve.
Perhaps the most underrated aspect of Winnett’s game is his distribution, likely a trait picked up when playing in the centres and possibly as a fly-half when younger, a position he noted himself he could play in an interview with the U20 Six Nations official site earlier this year.
We’ve seen for the Rags that he is comfortable stepping in at first receiver when trying to split the field or Dan Fish was otherwise engaged, but perhaps his best spot as a second playmaker is in the screen position as above against Llandovery where he has a bit more time to assess the defence.
With his stepping, turn of pace and surprising strength through contact the opposition can’t afford to turn their shoulders away from Winnett. If they do he’ll have broken the line in a flash, but if they stay square then the option is there to move the ball into the wider channel and the full-back has the passing range to get the ball there quickly and accurately.
Considering his slightly smaller frame, Winnett is listed as 5’10” and 84kg on the WRU website, the full-back is a more than capable defender. He has the physicality to bring down the most marauding of ball carriers, and the pace matched by a work ethic to chase down any line breakers before they reach the try line.
Naturally there is a restriction in the aerial game when coming up against taller players, but his jump height and technique mitigate that enough so as not to be a consistent issue, as does any coach worth their tactical salt keeping him away from those aerial duels and in positions where he can have the maximum effect on long kick returns and counter attacks.
Wales U20 might find competing a struggle over the next few weeks as the forward pack is unlikely to improve significantly to trouble the likes of pool opposition New Zealand U20 and France U20, after an U20 Six Nations where we were regularly bullied off the park.
If Mark Jones’ men are to have a positive experience out in South Africa it will be due to the work of the backs in managing the kicking game and striking on transition, areas where Cameron Winnett will play a key role. Keep a keen eye out for the Cardiff man as he brings his U20 career to a close ahead of challenging for the Blue and Blacks first team.
Cardiff Rugby Life 