Phillips Backs Wales Spirit To Overcome England

Wales U20 captain Tom Phillips believes team spirit can carry them through to victory against England and keep them on course for a first Grand Slam.

The Scarlets flanker led his battling side to a 16-10 victory over France on Friday night to keep Wales unbeaten in their age group Six Nations tournament.

It means Wales now head to Ashton Gate in Bristol on March 11 for a Triple Crown clash against England.

Phillips said: “There is real togetherness in this team. We know we have a good team spirit.

“Team morale and confidence is very high and we have now won three games out of three.

“England have a big, physical pack so we know how difficult it will be. It is an area we will have to work on to be able to challenge them there.”

Billy McBryde returned to the scene of his match winning debut for Wales Under 20 two weeks earlier to mastermind a brilliant Welsh performance that earned them a third successive triumph.

McBryde showed nerves of steel by coming on to kick the decisive penalty to beat the Scots at Parc Eirias in round two of the Under 20 Six Nations Championship, and the Scarlets outside half landed three penalties and a conversion to earn Wales a win that leaves them as the only unbeaten side in the tournament.

The last time Wales won their opening three matches was in 2013, when they went all the way to the final game against England at Parc Eirias before losing 28-14.
Wales have twice finished second since the competition went to Under 20 in 2008, but have yet to clinch a Triple Crown, Grand Slam or championship title. But after this superb showing against a much fancied French outfit they can head to Bristol full of confidence.

The French cause was hindered by a red card for wing Gabriel N’Gandebe after 56 minutes following a reckless challenge with his feet on Welsh full back Rhun Williams as he chased a kick ahead.

That earned him a second yellow card and left the French a man short for the final 24 minutes. Moments later man of the match McBryde kicked his third penalty and Wales had their noses in front at 9-7.

The first-half had seen France dominate the early exchanges and try to out-muscle the home side. But the Welsh pack were having nothing of it and they secured two scrum penalties which McBryde kicked to build a six point lead.

His opposite number, Anthony Belleau, had already missed the target with two shots at goal and Wales were thankful to hold a 6-0 lead at the break. But that didn’t last long as France came racing out of the blocks at the start of the second period.

Billy McBryde, son of Wales seniors forwards coach Robin, was again a decisive influence with the boot.
Billy McBryde, son of Wales seniors forwards coach Robin, was again a decisive influence with the boot.

Some solid approach work from the forwards left Wales short-handed on their right and Biarritz centre Alex Arrate was able to cross on the overlap for a try which Belleau converted to edge his side one point ahead.

The Welsh defence, led by inspirational skipper Tom Phillips and his workaholic back row, kept chopping down the French attackers and it was a midfield raid by the centre pairing Harri Millard and Joe Thomas that paved the way for McBryde’s third penalty just short of the hour.

Back came the French with another Belleau penalty to regain the lead, but then McBryde launched a move from just in front of his own posts that enabled Keelan Giles to show off his twinkle-toes . The Ospreys star sped up the left wing out of his 22 to maximise the space left by the red card shown to his opposite number.

Harrsion Keddie was up in support when he was cut down 30 metres out and eventually it was left to replacement prop Leon Brown to throw the try scoring pass to right wing George Gasson to complete an 80 metre score. It was a sensational effort which McBryde improved to open up a six point gap.

The outside half had a chance to drive a final nail in the French coffin with a 75th minute penalty, but this time he was wide. It didn’t matter, though, as Wales held on for a famous win.

Scorers: Wales U20: Try: G Gasson; Con: B McBryde; Pens: B McBryde 3; France U20: Try: A Arrate; Con: A Belleau; Pen: A Belleau

Wales Under 20: Rhun Williams (RGC); George Gasson (Dragons), Joe Thomas (Ospreys), Harri Millard (Cardiff Blues), Keelan Giles (Ospreys); Billy McBryde (Scarlets), Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys); Corey Domachowski (Cardiff Blues), Dafydd Hughes (Scarlets), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Shane Lewis-Hughes (Cardiff Blues), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Tom Phillips (captain, Scarlets), Shaun Evans (Scarlets), Harrison Keddie (Newport Gwent Dragons)
Replacements: Ifan Phillips (Scarlets), Rhys Fawcett (Scarlets), Leon Brown (Newport Gwent Dragons), Bryce Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Morgan Sieniawski (Cardiff Blues), Declan Smith (Scarlets), Kieran Williams (Ospreys), Joe Gage (Ospreys)

France Under 20: Romain Buros (Pau); Gabriel N’Gandebe (Massy), Atila Septar (Brive), Alex Arrate (Biarritz Olympique), Eliott Roudil (La Rochelle); Anthony Belleau (RC Toulon), Antoine Dupont (Castres Olympique); Clement Castets (Montpellier, captain), Peato Mauvaka (Toulouse), Michael Simutoga (Clermont Auvergne), Florian Verhaegue (Toulouse), Mathieu Tanguy (La Rochelle), Judicael Cancoriet (Clermont Auvergne), Anthony Jelonch (Castres Olympique), Baptiste Pesenti (Montpellier)
Replacments: Emerick Setiano (RC Toulon), Pierre Bourgarit (Toulouse), Elies El Ansari (Massy), Theo Hannoyer (Castres Olympique), Matthieu Voisin (Racing 92), Alexandre Pilati (Bordeaux-Begles), Damian Penaud (Clermont Auvergne), Baptiste Couilloud

Referee: Sean Gallagher (Ireland)

 

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