Whiffin wants Wales U20 to end on a winning note against the Scots

Having taken a step into the unknown throughout their first four matches at the World Rugby Junior Championship with games against Georgia, Uruguay, South Africa and Australia, the Wales U20 side will battle it out with familiar foes in today’s (Friday 17 July) Fifth Place Final in Tbilisi.

With three wins already under their belt against Scotland in the past eight months, two of them in warm-up friendlies, you might fear there may be an air of complacency in the Welsh ranks. Not a bit of it!

Wales will be seeking their highest finish since 2013, while the Scots are chasing their highest finish of all time at the tournament. With a driving line-out that has been chalking up tries for fun against all opposition, they come into the clash with every hope of reaching their goal.

“It’s a bit like a cup final. We both know each other very well and it’s a chance for both of us to get one up on the other,” admitted Wales U20 head coach Richard Whiffin.

“There are some good friendships across the two teams because we play them so often. It’s going to be a cracker of a game.

“Scotland have come on loads, and this will be the fourth time we’ve played them, so they are familiar foes. They have a formidable pack, and they have unearthed a really good No10 who has a fair bit of ‘X-Factor’.

“They will be coming into this game with plenty of confidence after some very good results and performances in the tournament to date. They scored four tries against New Zealand with their drive and then another couple against Argentina.

“Their driving maul is a big weapon and so it comes back to us keeping our discipline and playing in the right areas of the field. It’s a very tough weapon to stop, so the best way is to limit their entries into our 22.”

Wales only defeat in the pool stages was against reigning champion South Africa, who have once again reached the final. That defeat featured five tries for Wales.

They then pipped Australia 38-36 in an emotionally draining fifth place semi-final that went down to the wire – and a TMO decision to rule out what would have been a winning try for the Aussies.

But what that game demonstrated was the desire and durability of the team led by co-captains Deian Gwynne and Steff Emanuel. They are both demanding a similar effort in what will be the the final game of their illustrious U20 careers

“It has been great for the boys to get used to playing southern hemisphere sides and hopefully they will be matching up against them for the next 10-15 years of their careers. It’s important they get used to coming up against other nations like South Africa and Australia,” added Whiffin.

“The players were emotionally drained after beating Australia and getting that big southern hemisphere scalp. It was an outstanding result, and this week has been all about getting the energy back into the players for the last game.

“The boys have taken the learnings from the Six Nations, where we lost in the close games, and we’ve been able to come out on top in the tight games out here. It will be really nice to finish four from five.

“It would be the perfect way for those players who are finishing their Wales U20 careers if we can pick up another win.

“This week has been more about the mental than the physical. The Scots are a combative group, and we know we will have to be physically up for it, but we also need to be in the right mental frame of mind.

“All the talk amongst the players has been about finishing the tournament on a high, so they seem up for it.”