Jason Strange’s men will be hoping to take some winning momentum into a mouthwatering clash against cross-border rivals England before they finish off the pool campaign against Samoa. Here we take a closer look at Wales’ Pool A opponents.
Australia have included six players with Super Rugby experience for their tilt at the title in Georgia. Wales will have to be wary of Reds speedster Izaia Perese as well as Aussie sevens star Henry Hutchison.
Shambeckler Vui, Jordan Uelese, Rob Valetini, Hamish Stewart, Jack Maddocks, Sione Tuipulotu and Perese have all been named after impressing for their Super Rugby franchises. The junior Wallabies were beaten 43-6 by New Zealand in the Oceana Championships, and Wales skipper Will Jones is hoping to catch them cold.
He said: “Australia will be a tough game, but it’s the start of their season whereas we’ve grown throughout the year. We’ve been growing throughout the year and we can catch them cold. There is nothing to say our boys can’t get a result.”
Next up are familiar foes England on Sunday. Wales will have to stop Bath back-row Zach Mercer, who led the Red Rose to the U20 Six Nations Grand Slam and was named RPA Young Player of the Year. He found his way over the whitewash in the 37-21 triumph over Wales at Eirias Park earlier this season, and Jones knows exactly what to expect.
He said: “We owe England one after the Six Nations, and we want to stop their winning run. Zach Mercer was fantastic but England have threats from numbers one to 15. We’ll be watching out for Mercer.
“During the Six Nations we were winning every game after 30 minutes, I think we fatigued in those last 10 minutes of the first-half. That showed against England when they scored three tries against us which was a crucial period. So if we can keep that level of intensity for the full 80 minutes, we won’t have a problem.”
Samoa qualified for this season’s U20 Championship by overcoming Pacific Island rivals Fiji 39-29 at the Oceana Championships. They know their Aussie opposition well after running them close last month. Australia kept their discipline to earn a 43-20 victory, and Ospreys openside Jones reckons his men will have to be patient to break the Samoans down.
He said: “There will be some sore bodies after we take-on Samoa, it will be fast, and we really need to switch on after the first two games. It will be a physical encounter but our skill and our structure will win us that game.”
