Posted by Cymru D20 begin their World Rugby U20 Championship campaign on Saturday when they take on New Zealand U20 in Cape Town, live on RugbyPass at 6pm UK time.
It’s a familiar opponent, and pool generally, for Richard Whiffin’s side as they face the Baby Blacks and France U20 for a second year running, with only Spain U20 replacing Japan U20 as the fourth side involved having been promoted from last year’s second tier competition.
The tasks don’t get much tougher, but Cymru are in a good place off the back of the U20 Six Nations. During that time 35 players were used by Whiffin and his coaches, getting a good look at a wider group of players from the experience of a Morgan Morse, to the fresh face of a Kodie Stone or Sam Scott who are still only D18.
Performances notably improved over the course of the two months, culminating in that terrific 27-15 win over Italy U20 at the Arms Park. It displayed both the skill level within the squad, particularly impressive with such a changed back line, as well as the character of the squad in coming back from 0-15 down at the break to win the second half 27-0.
Whiffin has stuck with a consistent selection in his 30-man squad, with only three players named that did not play in the Six Nations. One of those is captain Ryan Woodman who is back fit and coming into the tournament having started for the Dragons at Judgement Day, while Ioan Emanuel is a boost at loosehead, and brother Steff is a notable talent at centre despite still being D18.
Eight of the 30 are returners to South Africa from last year’s World Rugby U20 Championship squad, offering a level of experience, and crucially the majority of the squad have been playing regularly leading into the tournament whether that be in the Welsh Premiership, English Championship or for their respective first teams.
There will still be challenges for the young Welshmen; question marks remain about their scrummaging strength, the tight five are underpowered when compared to a massive French squad, and there is no natural inside centre in the squad other than the 17-year-old Emanuel.
However, there is plenty to like about this squad both on an individual level and as a collective. Jordan Morris has huge raw potential at loosehead, Sam Scott has been talked about plenty at tighthead, the back row is absolutely stacked, Ieuan Davies was a Six Nations standout at scrum-half, both Harri Wilde & Harri Ford are innovative at fly-half, and Louie Hennessey is consistently excellent in midfield.
So what does a successful tournament look like for Cymru? Well, since finishing as runners-up in 2013 the men in red have been brutally consistent; 7th, 6th, 7th, 7th, 7th, 6th, 6th. Realistically that is not going to change massively.
Any win over France, New Zealand or, incredibly, both would be an immediate success, but in truth the aim has to be to beat Spain comfortably and look to take any points off Les Bleus and the Baby Blacks in order to secure a spot in the 5th-8th place play-off as one of the best two third place finishers. That is the minimum expectation, and with the gap above that anything else would be huge.
From there Whiffin’s side will face a team more comparable on paper and that is where they can be judged. Push on to the fifth-place play-off and that’s a good tournament. Drift away in the seventh-lace play-off and finish eighth, and it’s a touch underwhelming.
Essentially, unless you’re a super keen nause like myself who will take in far too much of the World Rugby U20 Championship over the next few weeks, and you just want to see how Cymru are getting on, then tune in for the final two games as they go through the play-offs.
That is where this side will be able to show what they’re about.
Cardiff Rugby Life 