Wales edged out by New Zealand in U20 World start

Wales suffered an agonising one-point defeat to New Zealand of their opening sport of the U20s World Championship.

Ospreys trio Lloyd Lewis, Dan Edwards and Morgan Morse all crossed earlier than the Child Blacks hit again with 22 unanswered factors early within the second half.

Alternative Sam Scarfe’s last-minute attempt at the very least ensured Wales took two bonus factors from an exciting match.

Wales had arrived in South Africa on the again of a depressing Below-20s Six Nations – during which they didn’t win a sport – that prompted head coach Byron Hayward’s resignation.

The final time this Wales group performed they conceded 11 tries in a file defeat by France.

But right here, they scored extra factors towards the Child Blacks in 18 minutes than they’d ever managed in a complete sport.

Interim boss Mark Jones has solely been within the function a matter of weeks however the turnaround in confidence was outstanding.

Regardless of the outcomes, Wales had been in every of the Six Nations contests, aside from the France demolition, for an hour.

This time Wales ended the sport the stronger, with New Zealand ending with 14 gamers, and the late bonus factors had been the least they deserved.

Wales may have feared the worst when New Zealand wing Caleb Tangitau touched down with ease within the seventh minute.

However Wales dominated the remainder of the half with a mixture of set-piece self-discipline from an all-new front-row and fast arms behind.

Hooker Lloyd, making solely his second worldwide look, went shut twice earlier than he peeled off a lineout drive to attain.

Moments later and one other lineout drive was spun vast the place Bryn Bradley mixed with Edwards for the fly-half to attain between the posts.

Lewis nearly grabbed a second from an over-thrown New Zealand lineout and alternative Louis Fletcher and Morse had been each held up over the road as Welsh perception grew.

And when full-back Cameron Winnett was snagged simply quick, Morse was on-hand to seize Wales’ third attempt for a 19-5 lead at half-time.

The break got here the mistaken time for Wales and gave New Zealand to recompose.

A collection of penalties and a recent depth to their tackling noticed Macca Springer and flankers Sam Hainsworth-Fa’aofo and Che Clark all rating within the area of 14 minutes.

Nevertheless regardless of trailing 27-19, Wales rallied late on. Edwards missed a easy penalty and Wales aw two tries dominated out by the video referee earlier than Scarfe made certain with little greater than a minute remaining.

Wales’ subsequent opponents Japan had been overwhelmed 75-12 by France who prime Pool A.

Wales head coach Mark Jones mentioned:

“The boys are gutted. Sure they took two bonus factors however they put themselves ready to win that sport.

“We needed them to be ready to win the sport within the ultimate minutes, maybe I ought to have stored my mouth shut.

“I am so pleased with their effort. Our lineout was an actual weapon, we had been harmful with ball in hand and we completed the far stronger.

“We simply have to work on nailing the element in large moments like that 15-minute interval simply after half-time after we allowed New Zealand to take again momentum.”

Wales U20: Cameron Winnett (Cardiff); Llien Morgan (Ospreys), Louie Hennessey (Tub), Bryn Bradley (Harlequins), Harri Houston (Ospreys); Dan Edwards (Ospreys), Archie Hughes (Scarlets); Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (Dragons), Lewis Lloyd (Ospreys), Ellis Fackrell (Ospreys), Liam Edwards (Ospreys), Jonny Inexperienced (Harlequins), Ryan Woodman (Dragons, capt), Lucus De La Rua (Cardiff), Morgan Morse (Ospreys)

Replacements: Sam Scarfe (Dragons), Josh Morse (Scarlets), Louis Fletcher (Ospreys), Evan Hill (Ospreys), Seb Driscoll (Harlequins), Tom Florence (Ospreys), Harri Wilde (Cardiff), Harri Williams (Scarlets).

New Zealand U20: Harry Godfrey; Caleb Tangitau, Aki Tuivailala, Ajay Faleafaga, Macca Springer; Taha Kemara, Noah Hotham (capt); Ben Ake, Jack Taylor, Siale Lauaki, Tahlor Cahill, Will Stodart, Che Clark, Sam Hainsworth-Faao, Peter Lakai.

Replacements: Raymond Tuputupu, Malakai Hala, Gabe Robinson, Tom Allen, Malachi Wrampling-Alec, Jordi Viljoen, Leo Gordon, Codemeru Vai.

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England)