IRELAND RETURNS TO WALES UNDER 21 LINE-UP
While Mike Ruddock’s senior side have been carrying all before them in the senior tournament this season, Chris Davey’s men have been equally dominant at Under 21 level and will be hoping to make it four out of four against their Scottish counterparts in Aberdeen on Friday (kick-off 2.00pm).
“For the first time this season we have had a fully fit squad to select from and the preparations for Scotland have gone very well,” said Wales Under 21 team manager Wayne Hall.
“It is good to have James Ireland back in the fold. He was capped last season but has missed much of this campaign through injury.
“He gets a run ahead of Wayne Evans, while Andrew Bishop will start at centre having missed the victory in France through illness. He takes over from Tom Riley, who himself picked up an injury in France.”
It took a last gasp penalty from Matthew Jones to finally clinch victory in Aurillac, although by outscoring the hitherto unbeaten French by two tries to one James Merriman’s side were worthy winners.
That 20-19 victory followed triumphs in Italy (40-3) and against England (32-21) at Newport. It means Merriman’s men need only to win in Aberdeen to set-up a Grand Slam shot against Ireland at The Gnoll, Neath on Friday, 18 March (kick-off 7.00pm).
WALES UNDER 21
15 Ricky Williams (Newport)
14 Aled Brew (Ospreys)
13 Andrew Bishop (Ospreys)
12 Gavin Evans (Scarlets)
11 Chris Czekaj (Cardiff)
10 Matthew Jones (Ospreys)
9 James Ireland (Newport)
1 Scott Roberts (Bridgend)
2 Duane Goodfield (Pontypridd)
3 Cai Griffiths (Neath)
4 Alun Wyn Jones (Swansea)
5 Ian Evans (Pontypridd)
6 Chris Davies (Bridgend)
7 James Merriman (Hartpury Coll/Gloucester, captain)
8 Jonathan Mills (Scarlets)
Replacements: 16 Rhys James (UWIC); 17 Phillip Osbourne (Cardiff); 18 Ben Thomson (Newport); 19 Tom Smith (Neath); 20 Aled Thomas (Carmarthen Quins); 21 Dafydd Hewitt (Cardiff); 22 Wayne Evans (Carmarthen Quins)
