Deacon starts as Wales U18 seek clean sweep

Deacon, who will be the front line goal kicker for Wales, has not had any playing time thus far in the tournament, the rules of which require each player in the squad to make at least one start.

However, the Rumney player will have top centres Ashley Beck and Jason Harries alongside him in the midfield and will play behind a pack that is expected to supply good ball. Both Beck and Harries were outstanding in Wales’s win over England on Wednesday and should again be the key runners against Scotland.

“If we get quality ball then I think we can threaten behind the scrum,” said Wales U18 Team Manager Terry Cobner. He added, “We’ve never had an easy game against Scotland at this level. They’ll be playing in front of their home crowd and will want to finish on a winning note.

“Scotland have strength in their line-out. They’ve got a very tall second rower and he’ll be difficult to compete against. I’m sure too that Scotland will have done their homework on our back play and will have their defence well organised” stated Cobner.

Wales go into their game against Scotland hoping to make it three from three in the Six Nations festival to follow their wins over Italy and England. Their form against England would suggest that they are on course for a clean sweep.

“We played with an intensity and skill level that England could not match. There was a real will to win and we showed that same passion in defence as well, especially when we were down to fourteen men with a player in the sin-bin,” added Cobner.

As well as Deacon four other players, flankers Jack Shaw and Lewis Mills, prop Stewart Maguire and lock Dan Partridge, will be making first time starts in the tournament, but all four have had game time already as replacements.

Wales U18 (v Scotland U18):
15. Jason Tovey (Cwmcarn/Newport)
14. Adam Hughes (Croesyceiliog)
13. Jason Harries (Bro Myrddin/Carmarthen Quins)
12. Ashley Beck (Neath/Tonmawr)
11. Ryan Bayliss (Brecon/Pelenna)
10. Joseph Deacon (Rumney)
9. Rhys Downes (Rhydyfelin RFC)
1. Thomas Price (Builth/Builth Wells)
2. Ricky Guest (Captain, Coleg Sir Gal/Llanelli)
3. Stewart Maguire (St Joseph’s/Chepstow)
4. Ashley Sweet (Pontypool/Pontypool United)
5. Daniel Partridge (Llantwit Major)
6. Lewis Mills (St David’s/Rumney)
7. Jake Thomas (Pencoed/Ynysybwl)
8. Rory Pitman (Ospreys Academy)

Replacements from:
16. Aaron Coundley (Cross Keys/Blackwood)
17. Rhys Williams (Blues Academy)
18. Scott Andrews (Y Pant/Llantrisant)
19. Lee Bray (Cross Keys/Blackwood)
20. Jack Shaw (Brynteg/Bridgend Athletic)
21. Justin Tipuric (Swansea/Trebanos)
22. Kristian Dacey (Merthyr RFC)
23. Lloyd Williams (Cowbridge/Llandaff)
24. Dan Biggar (Gowerton)
25. James Loxton (St David’s/Llandaff)
26. Tomos Rees (Coleg Sir Gal/Llandybie)