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Wales U20s were unable to reach the semi-finals of the Junior World Rugby Championships, being mauled into submission by South Africa.
Here’s how the players rated after the 52-33 defeat…
15. Lewis Edwards – 5
Tidy performance from the full-back. Some nice link play and helped himself to a try late on.
14. Rhys Cummings – 5
So nearly set up Wales’ third try. Inside pass was the right option, but helpless to stop it being picked off. Solid under the high ball, but occasionally ran away from support.
13. Osian Darwin-Lewis – 6
Got through a lot of work defensively, while he wasn’t always rewarded for some jackal attempts. Deserved his try.
12. Steffan Emanuel – 7
The centre has a bright future in the senior game. Lovely line for Wales’ second try, while he’s got a deft kicking game. Desperately unlucky not to be rewarded with a 50:22 late in the first half that might have changed Wales’ fortunes.
11. Tom Bowen – 6
Took a while to get into the match, with his first-half involvements being to deal – fairly well it should be said – with the odd high ball.
Second half saw him to the fore as a running threat, capped by a fine try. Had another ruled out for a knock-on.
10. Carwyn Leggatt-Jones – 6
Took the game to South Africa at times, getting Wales’ backline going nicely for the most part. Never shied away from a tackle either.
9. Sion Davies – 5
Some nice moments, with some decent kicks and the odd snipe. Service was occasionally a little unconvincing.
1. George Tuckley – 6
Managed to get a couple of scrum penalties out of the South African pack early on. Big defensive shift by the loosehead, but part of a pack that had no answer in the maul.
2. Tom Howe – 6
Lineout was the platform for Wales’ two early tries, but it had a couple of wobbles later on when Wales were looking for a way back in just before the break. Carried powerfully as Wales looked to fight back in the second-half.
3. Jac Pritchard – 4
Can’t say he wasn’t warned for his yellow card, having been sent to the sin-bin for his third offence at a maul.
4. Will Evans – 5
Good work in opening minute to defuse the South African maul – but that was as good as it in that area of the game. Try chalked off for a knock-on, but carried fairly well in the second-half before being replaced.
5. Tom Cottle – 5
Great handling to nearly set up a third score out wide. Got through his tackles, too. Couple of penalties went against him as Wales just couldn’t live with South Africa’s maul.
6. Deian Gwynne – 6
Right up to the end, the captain never stopped on either side of the ball. Lovely hands to put Emanuel over early on.
7. Caio James – 7
Never took a backwards step. Won an early penalty at a breakdown, then scored from the lineout. Ended the day with the most tackles, making 17.
8. Evan Minto – 6
Strong carrying display by the No. 8, with no one carrying more. Little loose at times, coughing up the ball on a few occasions.
Replacements
16. Oscar Thomas – 5
Only had quarter of an hour to show what he could do, but helped Wales push for a late consolation.
17. Dylan James – 5
On for the final quarter, the loosehead prop carried well in his time on the pitch.
18. Yestyn Cook – 6
Briefly on in first-half during Pitchard’s yellow. Made some decent metres with his carrying, beating three defenders.
19. Luke Evans – 5
Part of the effort by Wales’ pack to find one last try, with South Africa’s discipline creaking in those dying minutes.
20. Osian Williams – 5
Decent impact off the bench.
21. Alex Ridgway – 6
On for final 15 minutes and ended up as Wales’ fifth-highest carrier.
22. Cai Gealy – 5
Decent service as he looked to get his pack moving forward.
23. Lloyd Lucas – 5
Some lively moments off the bench late on.
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