By Gareth James
Richard Whiffin has pledged to pick up his Wales U20 side after their nine try defeat in France.
Like their senior counterparts, the U20s began their own Six Nations with a jolting one-sided walloping, but at least they will head into the Italy fixture having got on the scoreboard.
They visit Italy at Stadio di Monigo on Friday following a 63-19 loss to France in Vannes.
Unlike Warren Gatland’s men – who lost 43-0 – the U20s scored two first half tries and changed ends at Stade de la Rabine trailing by a mere nine points.
By contrast, Italy U20s kicked-off with a 22-10 triumph over Scotland in Edinburgh.
“We’re massively disappointed with the scoreline. There was a lot of effort and I don’t think the scoreline line reflected the game,” said Whiffin.
“Credit to France, though, they were very clinical in the second half, but it was a closer battle than the scoreline suggests. We needed to be better at holding them out at the end of the first half.
“We have to learn how to stick in a game when a team has momentum. We wanted to be brave and we knew we would have to score tries and that was our mindset.
“We had 60% possession in the first half and should have scored a few more tries. Had we done that it would have been a different atmosphere coming into the second half.
“We need to work on the period at the start of the second half because that was where we gave them the ascendancy. It was always going to be key who scored first in the second half.
“Once they opened up a two score lead we got too loose, especially with our kicking. That gave them the chance to put on some more scores.
“They took every chance and kick every point and that’s why the scoreline blew out. The lessons we have to learn is how do we turn 40 minute performances in 80 minute ones and how do we stick in games when they are starting to drift away.”
That opening night energy #FRAvWAL | #GuinnessM6N pic.twitter.com/w9eIG4fCyu
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) February 3, 2025
Wales haven’t won away from home in the U20 Six Nations since Sam Costelow and Jac Morgan steered their side to a 23-22 win over England at Kingsholm on Friday 6 March 2020, so a victory on the road is long overdue.
Current skipper Harry Beddall led the side to a 27-15 win over the Italians in Cardiff last season, but the previous two years it had been Italy who had taken the spoils – 29-25 at Stadio Monigo in 2023 and 27-20 in Colwyn Bay in 2022. Can they hit back in Treviso to end a run of nine successive away defeats?
“The game in Vannes hinged on a big moment after 38 minutes when Harry Beddall was yellow carded. We had just had 10 minutes of territory in their 22 with five repeat penalties with no yellow card and then they go down the other end and get one after one entry,” said Whiffin.
“That was a big moment and led to them going into half-time with a nine point lead. We didn’t then control the 10 minute period without Harry as well as we could have.
“France got momentum and we couldn’t create enough or cut down on our errors to stop them getting those points in the second half. They were very clinical and took their opportunities when they came to them.
“There were lots of occasions when we needed to be better. We gave them possession too easily in the second half and needed to hold out a few more defensive sets.
“Coming in at half time we were happy with how we had played. The boys were frustrated that it had gone to 21-12 because we had left a few chances to score out there, but confident for the second half.
“We didn’t give up or fall off anything, but momentum got on top of us and we struggled to arrest it. Our front five in the first half were brilliant, the scrum was solid, we tested them at maul time and the back row were outstanding.
“Evan Minto’s collisions were impressive, Harry Beddall was constantly in shot and Deian Gwynne was a pest around the breakdown. The pack gave us a really good platform in the first half and we were dangerous when we did move the ball.
“We need to be more accurate in our kicking game and not become too loose. We probably coughed up possession too easily in the back line at times.
“Italy played well in their win in Scotland, they’ve got some good players and it is always difficult going to play away from home in the Six Nations. We will pick the bones out of this game then rest, recover and prepare for Round 2.
“We’ll learn a lot from in Vannes and from playing in an atmosphere like that. We need to get used to being in these environments and how to prepare to play in a bear pit.”
Dragons lock Nick Thomas, who fell awkwardly at a line out and hurt his ankle in the first half, is having his injury assessed.
