Wales U16 miss out to France

FRANCE U16  28 – 12  WALES U16

Wales lost all three of their matches in the tournament following defeats to England (31-10) and Italy (10-8), but that didn’t trouble Team Manager James Savastano who says his side’s motto is “Success is a journey and not a destination”.

“We asked the players to reach their potential and set targets for themselves, both collectively and individually,” he said. “They did that and will have learnt a lot this past week.

“In many ways the result is unimportant. If we had won or lost the message would have been the same – success is measured on development of the players and the experience in the international arena.

“The result is something for the management to deal with,” said Savastano, who has been U16 Team Manager since 2004. “This week will have taught the players about the rigours and demands of international rugby and they will be better prepared for the change to U18 level.”

France opened the scoring with a penalty from outside half Jonathan Quinnez, but Wales grabbed the first try of the match though winger Josh Smart, converted by Ian Smerddon.

The French No.8 gave the visitors a 10-7 half-time lead with his try at the end of the first period and France extended their advantage in the second half with two breakaway tries to build a lead they were never to relinquish.

“They were a big physical side all over the field and had a size advantage due to their eight month age gap over us,” said Savastano.

“We had parity up front, won enough ball but didn’t quite finish it off as we would have liked. We made mistakes, but the team will learn from them and that is what these games are all about.”

Wales created two great chances in the second half but on both occasions the French won turnover ball and found their way under the posts. Wales did manage a consolation try from replacement fullback Scott Williams in the final passage of the game to make the final score 28-12.

The players and management will now have a tournament debrief and then a meeting with the U18 management when the current crop of players is handed over.

Wales’s latest U16 side will be selected in November after management watch early season games in the Reebok Regional Championship.

Wales U16:
Ian Smerddon (Y Pant/Blues North)
Josh Smart (Tasker Milward School/Scarlets)
Ben John (Ysgol Gwyr/Ospreys)
Rhys Howells (Wellington College)
Will Rose (Ysgol y Cymer/Blues North)
Chris Lewis-Pratt (Wellington College)
Tom Rowlands (Whitchurch HS/Blues South)
Richard Powell (Cyfartha HS/Blues North)
Ieuan Davies (Treorchy CS/Blues North)
Tristan Davies (Ysgol Bro Myrddin/Scarlets)
Joe Davey (King Henry VIII/Dragons)
Rhys Ruddock (Bishopston CS/Ospreys, Captain)
Edward Siggery (Queen Elizabeth HS/Scarlets)
Guy Jones (Gowerton School/Ospreys)
Garrick Legge (Coedylan CS/Blues North)

Replacements used:
Chris Phillips (Hawthorn CS/Blues North)
Luke Lewis (Bryngwyn CS/Scarlets)
Tom Payne (Rhydyfelin CS/Blues North)
Harry Gravelle (Ysgol Llanharri/Blues North)
Ellis Lloyd (Maes-yr-yrfa/Scarlets)
Scott Williams (Ysgol Dyffryn Teifi/Scarlets)
Deeke Morse (Ysgol Llanharri/Ospreys)

Welsh Scorers: Tries: Josh Smart, Scott Williams. Con: Ian Smerddon