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Strange targets Scots

Strange targets Scots

Jason Strange has set his Wales U20s side a target of finishing fifth in the World Rugby U20s Championship but he insists they will not be taking Scotland for granted.
 

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Thursday’s eight-try triumph over Samoa U20 in Tbilisi ensured Strange’s side a place in the middle tier of play-offs with fifth the highest position up for grabs.

They will face Scotland U20, who they have beat twice in 2017, at the Avchala Stadium on Tuesday (3pm BST) and Strange admits the ultimate aim must be the highest possible finish.

He said: “Finishing fifth has got to be the target for this group of players and that would be a good achievement but we are under no illusions that Scotland will be saying the same. We certainly won’t underestimate Scotland.

“We’ll be playing Scotland for the third time in a couple of months. We were fortunate enough to get the result we wanted in those two games but this is a completely different tournament and there’s different conditions.”

Strange was pleased with the 54-20 victory over Baby Manu but has again highlighted the importance of an 80-minute performance.

They wrapped up the bonus-point with four first-half tries on Thursday afternoon but endured some shaky second-half minutes before putting the game to bed.

Strange insists the focus will remain on Wales U20s rather than the opposition and he is confident they can prevail providing they continue to make small improvements.

He added: “We were obvious pleased with the result, to score eight tries against quite a physical Samoa team. There was real variety to our tries as well – a lot of set-piece tries, tries off turnovers and off just building pressure, which is pleasing.

“Something we had been working on was turning pressure into points so that was pleasing.  One of the other main positives was some of the individual performances, Shane Lewis-Hughes and Will Jones were outstanding and that will be important for the next game.

“We’ll have a good look at Scotland and there will be quite a bit of footage but again in this tournament we’re just looking for that small improvement in every game.

“There will be a big focus on correcting one or two bits again and if we do that then hopefully we will get the result.

“We are going after that ability to play at a high level for 80 minutes – there’s been two or three minutes of lack of concentration, lack of physicality or poor decision making and that will cost you against the top three or four teams in the world. We just have to make sure we keep striving to achieve those standards whatever the opposition.”
 

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