MERRIMAN MISSES CRUCIAL U21 SHOWDOWN

Back row forward Merriman has joined the lengthy Wales casualty list with a knee cartilage injury while further injuries among the front row forwards – hooker Rhys James and loosehead prop Scott Roberts are absent with neck and shoulder injuries – mean Wales have only four fit front players available for the must win match.

Jonathan Mills will captain the team in Merriman’s absence. Rhys Shellard comes in at openside flanker for Merriman with Philip Osborne and Gerwyn Price called up to start in the front row. The crisis means Wales are able to muster just three forward replacements as they seek to build on the 24-8 victory over Scotland that included a vital bonus point for their four tries.

If Wales beat the junior Pumas, and pick up a bonus point in the process, they will qualify for the top four bracket. A defeat, and other results going their way, could see Wales playing in the bottom four bracket.

“None of us have experienced anything like the huge number of injuries we have had but our fate is in our own hands and we know we must perform and get a result against Argentina,” said assistant coach Dai Rees.

Wales U21 v Argentina U21:
Ricky Williams (Newport)
Aled Brew (Neath/Ospreys)
Andrew Bishop (Neath/Ospreys)
David Watts (Swansea)
Richard Fussell (Dragons)
Aled Thomas (Dragons)
James Ireland (Dragons)
Phillip Osborne (Newport)
Gerwyn Price (Neath)
Cai Griffiths (Neath/Ospreys)
Alun Wyn Jones (Swansea/Ospreys)
Dominic Day (Llanelli)
Chris Davies (Dragons)
Rhys Shellard (Pontypridd)
Jonathan Mills (Llanelli/Scarlets)(Captain)

Replacements:
Thomas Hearne (Caerphilly)
Sam Wahdan (UWIC)
Adam Powell (Blues)
Wayne Evans (Blues)
David Flanagan (Pontypridd)
Jamie Roberts (Cardiff)
Steve Ireland (Newport)