Despite taking on older opponents, Wales only just lost in December 2002 by 13-11 at Neath and in December 2001 by 25-22 at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, with skipper Gareth McCarthy (Cardiff) scoring all his side’s points in the former match with a try and two penalty goals.
Wales were winning by 17-10 at Newbridge in March 2001 when heavy rain caused the match to be abandoned during the second half.
Only skipper Dan George played in last season’s meeting, coming on as a replacement. He is the son of the former Llanelli centre and Neath backs coach, Kevin George.
Prop Ian Jones and flanker Robert Nash are the other old hands in the pack, while Tom Dickens, Ross Johnston and Nicky Downs were in the Wales under-18 Youth squad last season and many players in the squad were in the under-16 national teams, including lock Will Jones, who won a cap at that level earlier this year.
Wales: 15 Jamie Roberts (Ysgol Glantaf, Cardiff); 14 Ryan Owen (Colstons & Bishop of Llandaff), 13 Emyr Williams (Coleg Sir Gar & Ysgol y Preseli), 12 David Watts (Gowerton Comp), 11 Nicholas Gill (Stanwell Comp, Penarth); 10 Gareth Williams-Davies (Cowbridge Comp), 9 Martin Roberts (Neath Coll & Llangatwg Comp); 1 Ian Jones (Ysgol y Strade), 2 Daniel George (capt) (Llandovery Coll & Ysgol y Strade), 3 Dafydd Thomas (Llandovery Coll & Pantycelyn), 4 Bradley Davies (Coleg Morganwg & Y Pant Comp), 5 Will Jones (St Teilos, Cardiff), 6 Luke Probert (Cantonian HS, Cardiff), 7 Robert Nash (Cwmcarn HS), 8 Adam Powell (Neath Coll & Cyfartha HS).
Replacements: 16 Tom Dickens (St Davids Coll, Cardiff), 17 Matthew McLean (Ysgol Glantaf, Cardiff), 18 Liam Isaac (Llantwit Major Comp), 19 Anthony Andrews (Woodhouse Coll), 20 Ross Johnston (Bryncelynnog Comp), 21 Tony Bryan (Cwmcarn HS), 22 Nicky Downs (Bassaleg).
