Lake leads U20s in Italian clash

Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake will lead Wales U20s for the first time against Italy this weekend.

Both captain Tommy Reffell and Tom Hoppe suffered injuries in Sunday's defeat to France in the opening game of the championship while second row Jac Price is unavailable for selection after picking up a suspension for a dangerous tackle. Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake takes over the captaincy for the first time in Reffell’s absence.

Fellow regional team mate Rhys Davies packs down alongside Lake, with Cai Evans getting the nod at fly-half to complete the Ospreys contingent in the lineup.

"We've been keen to keep an element of consistency to our squad, but some changes have been forced upon us with Tommy Reffel's injury and Jac Price's suspension," said Williams.

"It was a great measure of where we are last week against the world champions, and the challenge for us this week is to replicate the intensity we mustered for 60 minutes against France.

" There are certain scenarios we need to control more effectively, and Italy will be a confident group following an excellent performance and result against Scotland.

"We remember our loss last year at home, and know the challenges keep coming in this Six Nations.

"It is our ambition to keep improving our processes. There were aspects we were very happy with on the weekend, and certain areas we need to increase our efficiency.

"Dewi Lake will be an excellent captain in what will be his first outing with this honour. He and fly half Cai Evans have acted as key leaders in our early preparation and for the first game against France."

 

Wales U20 v Italy U20, Stadio Danilo Martelli, Mantova

Sunday 10th February, KO 2pm (UK)

15 Ioan Davies (Cardiff Blues)

14 Tomi Lewis (Scarlets)

13 Max Llewellyn (Cardiff Blues)

12 Aneurin Owen (Dragons)

11 Deon Smith (Dragons)

10 Cai Evans (Ospreys)

9. Jamie Hill (Dragons)

1. Rhys Davies (Ospreys)

2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys - CAPT)

3. Ben Warren (Cardiff Blues)

4 Ed Scragg (Dragons)

5. Teddy Williams (Cardiff Blues)

6. Lennon Greggains (Dragons)

7. Jac Morgan (Aberavon/Scarlets)

8. Taine Basham (Dragons)

 

Replacements

16 Will Griffiths (Dragons) 17 Tom Devine (Dragons) 18 Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets) 19 Max Ayling (Dragons) or Iestyn Rees (Scarlets) 20 Ellis Thomas (Llanelli) 21 Dafydd Buckland (Dragons) 22 Sam Costelow (Leicester) 23 Joe Roberts (Scarlets)

 

Wales U20s Six Nations Fixtures

February

Sun 3rd Feb 2019 France 32 - 10 Wales

Sun 10th Feb 2019           14:00     Italy U20s            v             Wales U20s        Stadio Danilo Martelli

Fri 22nd Feb 2019            19:05     Wales U20s        v             England U20s     Stadiwm Zip World

March                                                              

Fri 8th Mar 2019              19:30     Scotland U20s    v             Wales U20s        Stade de la Rabine

Sun 15th Mar 2019          19:05     Wales U20s        v             Ireland U20s       Stadiwm Zip World