Wales will have to get back to winning ways against host nation Argentina if they are to make a major impact at the World Rugby Junior Championships which kicks-off today (Tuesday) and is live on S4C.
Last season, the Pumas came out on top 39-15 in France and they also pipped Wales in the knockout stages in 2010 to reach the fifth-place play-off game thanks to a 9-8 kicking competition victory after the two sides had tied 19-19 after extra-time.
With the 2019 tournament being staged in Argentina it all adds up to a tough opening task for Dewi Lake and his side this evening (kick-off 5.00pm BST – live at S4C Clic and on S4C Chwaraeon Facebook) as they face the young Pumas for the sixth time in the tournament.
“We’ve come to Argentina wanting to be as successful as possible, but are very aware that wins at international level do not just happen – especially against a quality team like Argentina in their opening match of a home World Cup,” said Wales head coach Gareth Williams.
“The challenge for us is to be at our best from a tactical, technical, physical and mental point of view. If we can harness those areas in our preparation, we’ll hopefully fall the right side of the scoreboard come the end of 80 minutes.”
At least eight of the Welsh side will know what to expect having played against the Pumas in last year’s competition.
There are two players returning for the home side, who have reached the semi-finals once.
Wales U20 v Argentina U20
2018 (France) Wales 15-39 Argentina
2013 (France) Wales 25-20 Argentina
2012 (S.Africa) Wales 25-17 Argentina
2011 (Italy) Wales 34-8 Argentina
2010 (Argentina) Wales 19-19 Argentina (lost 9-8 on goal kicks)
10 KEY FACTS ABOUT THE U20 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
This year’s event is the 12th edition of a competition that began in Wales in 2008, when Sam Warburton captained the home side.
Argentina becomes the third country after Italy and France to stage the event twice, having first hosted in 2010. The host nation has only won the tournament three times, South Africa in 2012, England in 2016 and France in 2018.
The 11 winning captains are Chris Smith (NZ – 2008), Aaron Cruden (NZ – 2009), Tyler Bleyendaal (NZ – 2010), Luke Whitelock (NZ – 2011), Wiaan Liebenberg (SA – 2012), Jack Clifford (Eng – 2013), Maro Itoje (Eng – 2014), Atunaisa Moli (NZ – 2015), Harry Mallinder (Eng – 2016), Luke Jacobson (2017) and Arthur Coville (FR – 2018)
Only seven nations have featured in the 11 finals to date – England (9), New Zealand (7), South Africa (2), Australia (1), France (1), Ireland (1) and Wales (1). Argentina are the only other side to make a semi-final.
New Zealand winger Tevita Li scored a record 13 tries across his two appearances in the U20 Championship, while Australia’s Andrew Kellaway holds the record for the most tries in a single Championship with 10 in 2014
Wales’ final pool opponents, Fiji, bounced back to the U20 Championship stage for the first time since 2014 by winning the sister event, the U20 Trophy, in 2018.
Wales ended New Zealand’s run of 21 successive matches from 2008-2012 when they beat them 9-6 Wales in the 2012 pool stages.
Some 655 players have taken part in an U20 Championship and gone on to play test rugby, with Argentina boasting the most graduates with 67. More than a quarter of players at RWC 2015 had come through the U20 Championship pathway.
Three players in the class of 2019 have already been capped at test level in England back rower Ted Hill, Georgia hooker Van Karkadze and his captain Tedo Abzhandadze.
Brodie Retallick became the first U20 graduate to be crowned World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year in 2014. He was followed by fellow All Black Beauden Barrett in 2016 and 2017.
WALES AT THE JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
2008 (Wales)
Wales 29 – 10 Italy
Wales 33 – 10 Japan
Wales 23 – 19 France
Wales 6 – 31 New Zealand
Wales 18 – 43 South Africa
P5 W3 L 2 = 4th
2009 (Japan)
Wales 51 – 5 Tonga
Wales 51 – 15 Canada
Wales 5 – 38 Australia
Wales 19 – 17 Ireland
Wales 13 – 68 France
P5 W3 L2 = 6th
2010 (Argentina)
Wales 22 – 13 Samoa
Wales 31 – 3 Fiji
Wales 10 – 43 New Zealand
Wales 19 – 19 Argentina (8-9 pen shoot out)
Wales 39 – 15 Fiji
P5 W3 L2 = 7th
2011 (Italy)
Wales 34 – 8 Argentina
Wales 0 – 92 New Zealand
Wales 56 – 6 Italy
Wales 20 – 34 Fiji
Wales 38 – 24 Ireland
P5 W3 L2 = 7th
2012 (South Africa)
Wales 44 – 18 Fiji
Wales 9 – 6 New Zealand
Wales 74 – 3 Samoa
Wales 6 – 30 New Zealand
Wales 25 – 7 Argentina
P5 W4 L1 = 3rd
2013 (France)
Wales 42 – 3 Samoa
Wales 26 – 21 Scotland
Wales 25 – 20 Argentina
Wales 18 – 17 South Africa
Wales 15 – 23 England
P5 W4 L1 = 2nd
2014 (New Zealand)
Wales 48 – 19 Fiji
Wales 21 – 35 Ireland
Wales 13 – 3 France
Wales 18 – 19 France
Wales 20 – 3 Samoa
P5 W3 L2 = 7th
2015 (Italy)
Wales 10 – 19 France
Wales 16 – 35 England
Wales 66 – 3 Japan
Wales 22 – 12 Ireland
Wales 23 – 28 Australia
P5 W2 L3 = 6th
2016 (England)
Wales 25 – 26 Ireland
Wales 10 – 9 Georgia
Wales 18 – 17 New Zealand
Wales 12 – 71 New Zealand
Wales 42 – 19 Scotland
P5 W2 L3 = 7th
2017 (Georgia)
Wales 17 – 24 Australia
Wales 22 – 34 England
Wales 54 – 20 Samoa
Wales 25 – 29 Scotland
Wales 25 – 24 Italy
P5 W2 L3 = 7th
2018 (France)
Wales 26 – 21 Australia
Wales 18 – 17 Japan
Wales 10 – 42 New Zealand
Wales 15 – 39 Argentina
Wales 34 – 17 Italy
P5 W3 L2 = 7th
Wales U20 Fixtures 2019
June 4: Wales U20s v Argentina U20s (KO 5pm BST)
June 8: Wales U20s v France U20s (KO 5pm BST)
June 12: Wales U20s v Fiji U20s (5pm BST)
World Rugby Under 20 Championship
Starts Tuesday 4 June, 4.45pm
Available to watch live at S4C Clic and the S4C Chwaraeon Facebook page
A Media Atom production for S4C