Wales’s fate in the tournament was sealed when they lost their opening game against title favourites New Zealand. They conceded two late tries in that game and missed out on the bonus point that would have clinched them a semi-final slot, but Burnell is not lingering on what might have been. He is looking forward to rounding off a record breaking season with another positive performance.
There are five changes from the team that hit back so strongly to beat reigning champions South Africa in the last round.
“Lewis Evans is fit again after suffering a haematoma against Scotland so comes back into side but others, and the half back pairing in particular, have earned their places through their performances and hard work during this tournament,” said Burnell. “Darren Allison was man of the match in our last game against South Africa, while his half-back partner Rhys Priestland came on to win the game for us with his general play and awareness.
“While Rhys Jones is arguably the best goal-kicker in world rugby at this age, Priestland also produced a good performance with his boot against the Springboks.
“We won’t forget that Ireland beat England in their first game. That was probably the biggest upset in the tournament to date, so we can’t rely on our win in Dublin earlier this year to carry us through.
“It is very important that we finish the tournament on a high. It is the end of the season for us and we must secure a good seeding for next year’s competition.
“If we finish the season with a record that reads played 11, won 10 (that includes the non-capped game against the French Academies) we won’t have done badly.
“Having said that, to miss 28 tackles in the game against New Zealand was very disappointing in our opening game. That is a lesson we will all have to learn from.”
Wales U19: Martyn Jenkins (Scarlets); Alec Jenkins (Scarlets), Gareth Maule (Dragons), Ashley Smith (Dragons), Jimmy Norris (Dragons); Rhys Priestland (Exiles), Darren Allinson (Scarlets); Hugh Gustafson (Scarlets), Kewn Owens (Scardlets, Jamie Corsi (Dragons), Brad Davies (Blues, captain), Lou Reed (Scarlets), Matthew Larsen (Blues), Dan Franks (Blues), Lewis Evans (Dragons)
Replacements: Keiron Jenkins (Blues), Nicholas Evans (Blues), James Down (Blues), Neil Williams (Dragons), Luke Ford (Blues), Rhys Jones (Exiles), Rob Lewis (Dragons), Sam Kiley (Ospreys), James Lewis (Dragons), Marc Jones (Exiles)
