Wales U20s secure dramatic victory
The Wales U20s team achieved a significant win against the Junior Wallabies in their Junior World Championship play-off semi-final in Tbilisi. The match concluded with a score of 38-36, marking the first time Wales has beaten Australia at this level since 2018. This victory sets up a clash with Scotland U20s for fifth place in the tournament.
Despite being outscored by six tries to five, Richard Whiffin’s side secured the win. Key contributions came from Rhys Cummings, who scored a brace of tries, along with tries from Osian Darwin-Lewis and Deian Gwynne. A penalty try also added to their tally, complemented by Carwyn Leggatt-Jones’s 11 points from kicks.
The closing moments of the match were particularly tense. In the 79th minute, with only two points separating the teams, Australia’s Jonty Fowler appeared to score a try that would have given them the lead. However, a TMO review was initiated during the conversion attempt.
Replays confirmed that Angus Grover had knocked the ball on during the build-up to the try, leading to its disallowance by referee Robbie Jenkinson. Following this, Wales, who had seen Luke Evans receive a 20-minute red card earlier, managed to hold on. Scrum-half Sion Davies kicked the ball out of play, sealing the Welsh victory and sparking celebrations.
Coach Richard Whiffin expressed a mix of emotions after the match, acknowledging the team’s performance and the dramatic nature of the win. He noted that the team had shown flashes of brilliance but also areas for improvement, characteristic of age-grade rugby. Whiffin highlighted that this group of players is becoming accustomed to competing with and defeating strong teams.
Springboks anticipate tough challenge from Wales
Meanwhile, the Springboks are preparing for what they anticipate will be a challenging encounter against Wales in Durban. Ben-Jason Dixon, a forward for the reigning world champions, described the upcoming match as a “big challenge.” The Springboks will host Steve Tandy’s side at Kings Park Stadium.
The Springboks enter the match following a 42-28 victory over Scotland and a 45-21 win against England in the opening round of their fixtures. Wales, however, were unable to replicate their earlier success against Fiji, falling to a 35-21 defeat against Argentina in San Juan.
The Welsh team has not secured a victory against South Africa since 2022. Their last meeting saw Tandy’s squad suffer a 73-0 loss to the Springboks in Cardiff last autumn. Despite their recent form, Dixon emphasised that the Springboks are not underestimating Wales and expect a difficult test when they arrive in Durban on Saturday.
Dixon commented on the Welsh team’s continuous improvement and their defensive strength, noting they are a difficult team to break down. He also pointed out their effective kicking game. He concluded that the match would be a good way to conclude the first leg of the Nations Championship.
Caluori’s impressive debut for England
In other rugby news, Noah Caluori made a notable debut for England against Fiji, scoring a try just seven minutes into his Test career. Caluori finished in the right corner with a dive as England secured a 73-8 victory at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The 19-year-old also contributed an assist, passing inside for Henry Slade to score.
While satisfied with his debut, Caluori’s primary goal remains to start for England. The team is set to conclude their July tour against Argentina in Santiago del Estero. England’s captain, Jamie George, praised Caluori’s potential, highlighting his high ceiling and eagerness to learn and improve. George believes this debut is the first of many for Caluori in Test match rugby.
England will travel to Buenos Aires on Sunday evening, with head coach Steve Borthwick scheduled to announce his team to face the Pumas on Thursday.
Source: walesonline.co.uk