After leading Wales to a comfortable 66-3 victory Japan in their final pool game at the World Rugby U20 Championship on Wednesday evening, young Osprey Rory Thornton, said a positive start had been ke
The Wales U20 captain said:
"It was a massive win for us. The focus was to start well because we let ourselves down in the first 20 minutes of the first two games. This time, we got the points and we got the start we wanted.
"It has been a bit difficult because we have been dropping balls. But that happens and you just have to move on and do what you are doing. It's a good win."
In all, the Welsh youngsters ran in tries, with wings Joshua Adams and Elis-Wyn Benham both helping themselves to a brace. Jarrod Evans, Tom Phillips, Liam Belcher and Seb Davies also scored tries, while Thornton’s regional colleagues, fellow Ospreys Adam Beard and Dafydd Howells, rounded off the five pointers.
There were eight successful conversions, Jarrod Evans kicking five before Daniel Jones added a further three.
Wales Under 20 v Japan:
Dafydd Howells (Ospreys/ Neath); Elis-Wyn Benham (Blues/ Cardiff), Garyn Smith (Blues/ Pontypridd), Owen Watkin (Ospreys/ Bridgend), Joshua Adams (Scarlets/ Llanelli); Jarrod Evans (Blues/ Pontypridd), Tomos Williams (Blues/ Pontypridd); Luke Garrett (Dragons/ Cross Keys), Ryan Elias (Scarlets/ Carmarthen), Dillon Lewis (Blues/ Pontypridd), Adam Beard (Ospreys/ Aberavon), Rory Thornton (captain, Ospreys/ Bridgend), Seb Davies (Blues/ Pontypridd), Ollie Griffiths (Dragons/ Newport), Tom Phillips (Scarlets/ Llanelli)
Replacements: Torin Myhill (Scarlets/ Llanelli), Keagan Bale (Dragons/ Cross Keys), Joe Jones (Blues/ Cardiff), Lee Taylor (Carmarthen Quins), Liam Belcher (Blues/ Pontypridd), Kieran Hardy (Scarlets/ Carmarthen), Daniel Jones (Scarlets/ Carmarthen), Joe Thomas (Ospreys/ Swansea)