The warm up is over for Wales U18

Wales take on Italy at Eugene Cross Park, home of Ebbw Vale RFC with Llanelli hooker Ricky Guest leading the side that according to Head Coach Simon King ‘has grown up a lot’ following their 29-29 draw in France and their two close clashes with England’s finest at this age grade.

This game is an important stepping stone towards the Home Nations Tournament in Scotland next month and King and his coaching team are looking for another good performance.

“We are giving players a chance to prove themselves again ahead of the Home Nations tournament in Scotland. This team has been picked on performance so far in the two games against England and the draw in France,” said King. “The conditions suited the big England teams in recent weeks. We lost the first game in terrible conditions and toughed it out in the second to get a victory.

“These players have now got a good feel for one another and they are ready for a full international now. The players all realise that after three trial matches this is now a proper international. They understand their roles and responsibilities and we are all looking for the right kind of performance that will bring us a victory.

“These players are on a career path that they all hope will lead them into the professional game and senior honours, so games like this are their shop window. We played England twice in a howling gale and torrential rain and had our forwards tested to the full, while we were capable of scoring 29 points in good conditions in France.

“Our front row is strong, and we were very solid against England at scrum time, but we will be looking to use the natural flair of the players behind the scrum to unlock the Italian defence.

“Italy will be very similar to England with their set piece strength, but if we can match them there then we will look to move them around the pitch.”

U18 International
Wales v Italy
Ebbw Vale RFC, 2pm