The side lost to Italy 14-13 on the opening day but a much improved performance saw them come from 6-0 down at half-time to score two second half tries and claim a much deserved win over the Irish.
After a lot of good work in the first half but opportunities not quite finished off, the tries came for Blues, Cowbridge Comprehensive and Cardiff Harlequins flanker Aled Ward and Ospreys, Gower College and Waunarlwydd wing Keelan Giles, Dragons, Penallta and Lewis School’s Arwel Robson adding two conversions.
Portugal beat Scotland in the other fifth place semi-final meaning Wales play Portugal on Saturday in the fifth place final (11am, FCTT, Toulouse).
Lewis said, “The boys showed the effort and physicality that was asked of them and the performance they produced was much improved compared to our first game.
“The match was played in difficult conditions and with the wind against us in the first half, 6-0 wasn’t an insurmountable score.
“Despite the conditions the boys did their best to play some rugby and scored two good tries. Ireland’s game was focussed around their kicking game, so with two good tries in conditions which made handling difficult, we fully deserved the win.”
Lewis put the turnaround in fortunes down to hard work and focus following the reverse to Italy.
“We identified areas where we needed to improve after Italy, especially our attitude and physicality – two non-negotiables for the international game – and all the players fronted and improved in those areas against Ireland.
“We also learnt an important lesson in showing your opponent the utmost respect. With Portugal also upsetting the form book in beating Scotland, the results here show that some of the lesser countries are improving, especially at this level.
“We will be expected to beat Portugal but that will only happen if everything is in place and we put our all into the game as we did against Ireland.”
Wales Under 18 FIRA-AER squad:
Backs:
Jack Evans (Scarlets/ Llandovery Coll/ Llandovery), George Gasson (Dragons / St Cenydd / Caerphilly), Keelan Giles (Ospreys/ Gower College/ Waunarlwydd), Shaun Pearce (Scarlets / Coleg Sir Gar/ Kidwelly); Owen Lane (Blues/ Cowbridge Comp), Connor Edwards (Dragons / Newport High School / Croesyceiliog), Kieran Williams (Ospreys / Neath Port Talbot Coll/ Glynneath), Rhun Williams (RGC / Llandrillo / Caernarfon); Arwel Robson (Dragons/ Lewis School / Penallta); Matthew Aubrey (Ospreys / Gower College / Pontarddulais), Efan Jones (RGC/ Rydal Penrhos / Wrexham)
Forwards:
Kieron Assirrati (Blues / Coleg y Cymoedd / Wattstown), Steff Thomas (Scarlets/ Coleg Sir Gar), Tom Mably (Blues/ Cymoedd/ St Peters), Jordan Davies (Scarlets/ Carmarthen Athletic), Rhys Carré (Blues/ Cowbridge Comp/ St Josephs) , Ellis Shipp (Dragons / Coleg Gwent / Penallta), Jordan Liney (Ospreys/ Hartbury/ Dunvant), Max Williams (Dragons/Newport High School/ Caerleon), Callum Bradbury (Blues / Coleg Y Cymoedd / Beddau), Shane Lewis Hughes (Blues / Coleg Y Cymoedd / Ystrad Rhondda), Aled Ward (Blues / Cowbridge / Cardiff Quins), Mitchell Walsh (Ospreys / Gower College / Mumbles), Nathan Hudd (Drgaons/ Newport High School / Caerphilly), Joe Gaughan (Blues /Cowbridge Comprehensive / Glamorgan Wanderers), Josh Cole (Ospreys/Neath Port Talbot College / Tonmawr).
