Grand Slam Nerves Must Be Settled Warns Strange

Joe Thomas is back in the Wales U20 side for the Grand Slam clash with Italy. Pic: Huw Evans Agency.

Grand Slam Nerves Must Be Settled Warns Strange

Wales U20 head coach Jason Strange has told his players they must not allow Grand Slam nerves to affect their big night.

The unbeaten side will clinch a first Six Nations Grand Slam on Friday evening if they beat Italy at Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay.

But Strange – who has made just one enforced change to the team that hammered England 42-16 last week – says his players are prepared to overcome any anxieties.

He said: “We’ve addressed the dangers of getting ahead of ourselves and if our mindset is not right. We must stay focused on our own expectations and on meeting our high standards.

“Playing in big occasions like this one is a key part of the players’ development, we want them to continue playing with skill and ambition.

“The effort and unity they’ve shown has been our strength so far and our collective team spirit will be vital on Friday.”

Wing George Gasson is ruled out with a hamstring injury and replaced in the starting line-up by Joe Thomas. Joe Gage comes onto the bench.

Strange added: “We’ve rewarded the players for their outstanding performance last week. Joe Thomas has featured on the centre and wing during the campaign so he is comfortable there.

“It is a fantastic achievement to win the Triple Crown, it was a good performance but we can still make improvements, which will be our main objective on Friday.

“The players got a taste of what it feels like to produce a really memorable performance last week, and they want to enjoy that again by finishing on a high this weekend.

“We are certainly not going to underestimate Italy. They were unfortunate not to beat Ireland last weekend. They will bring a strong physical challenge and have an effective driving line-out and set-piece.

“However, we must concentrate on our own game and producing a performance and result that rewards the players, but also everyone who has supported them, along with the supporters and staff at Eirias who have once again been tremendous. It would be a fantastic boost to play in front of a sell-out crowd on Friday.”

Wales team v Italy (Friday 18 March, 7.05pm, Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay).
Rhun Williams (RGC); Joe Thomas (Ospreys), Harri Millard (Cardiff Blues), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Keelan Giles (Ospreys); Daniel Jones (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), Billy McBryde (Scarlets), Joe Gage (Ospreys)

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