The Wales senior team is struggling but there are a group of players underneath that are starting to cause real excitement behind the scenes
Wales U20s launched a thrilling comeback to blow away Scotland after a half-time “rocket” from head coach Richard Whiffin. The Welsh team came through 43-28 winners at the Wern after trailing 21-12 at the break.
Wales scored four second-half tries, taking the lead in the 51st minute and never looking back. The young side were superb in the final 40, with some of the teenagers tipped for big futures coming to the fore.
Schoolboy hooker Tom Howe scored in his U20s debut to put Wales in front, just days after taking the difficult decision to miss Ysgol Galtaf’s Welsh Schools Cup final victory at the Principality Stadium to gain U20s international honours.
Howe has been earmarked as a future Wales senior international and is part of a strong group of players who have already impressed for Wales U18s. His try was converted by outside-half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, who was recently named on the bench for the Scarlets after making a huge impression through the age grades.
Wales scored twice in the first half through wingers Evan Morris and Rhys Cummings and a conversion from Leggatt-Jones. The outside half then reduced the arrears early in the second half with a dazzling piece of individual flair to score a converted try to peg back the lead to just two points.
Howe’s try soon followed and Cummings scored his second from a text-book move from the training ground. Leggatt-Jones’ conversion put Wales 33-21 in front but the Scots hit back before Steff Jac Jones knocked over a penalty to put Wales two scores ahead.
Wales sealed the comeback when Evan Minto burrowed over under a pile of bodies.
Whiffin was delighted to see his side overcome a poor first half to claim the win.
“We were disappointed at halftime, it was a very flat performance in the first half, it didn’t represent what we are truly about. In old fashioned terms, they got a bit of a rocket at halftime,” he said.
“We saw a much more energised and connected team in the second half. I thought to be fair in the second half the bench gave real impact and really drove us home.
“Scotland challenged us, I thought their ball movement was really good, they got into the wide channels a lot and were a handful so it certainly shows that game in the Six Nations is going to be a tough one but one we look forward to.”
Wales scorers:
Tries: Evan Morris, Rhys Cummings (2), Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, Tom Howe, Evan Minto; Cons: Leggatt-Jones (4), Steff Jac JonesPen: Steff Jac Jones
Scotland scorers:
Tries: Rory Purvis, Henry Widdowson, Joe Roberts, Oliver Finlayson-Russell; Cons: Hamish MacArthur (3), Calum Jessop
