CARDIFF (Reuters) – Wales’s Under-20s showed their seniors what is possible when they stunned hot favourites England 23-13 on Friday to deny the world champions a Six Nations Grand Slam and open the door for France, who were playing Scotland later, to snatch the title.
England, unbeaten at Under-20 level for two years, had been expected to cruise to a clean sweep and a second successive championship, but after a strong start were pinned back and rarely looked like scoring again in an error-ridden second half.
The win will be a real fillip for the Wales senior team, who are seeking to end a 16-game losing streak against an England side still in with a chance of winning the title at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.
Across the road at the Arms Park on Friday, England’s huge pack were totally on top for the first 20 minutes but managed only one try by Ralph McEachran after a brilliant run and offload by Welsh-born hooker Kepu Tuipulotu.
A try by Steffan Emanuel brought Wales level at 13-13 at halftime and the hosts took a shock lead soon after the restart thanks to a spectacular finish in the corner by Harry Rees-Weldon.
Instead of the procession to the title most people expected, England struggled to get back into the game, making repeated handling errors as Wales defended with real aggression, and the hosts stretched the lead to 10 with a Harri Wilde penalty 10 minutes from time.
England could not find a way back and trudged off the pitch knowing that France were leading Scotland in Paris and on course for the title.
England missed a Grand Slam last year after drawing with Ireland alongside four wins but followed up by winning the Under-20 World Cup in South Africa.
Henry Pollock, who played in the first two games of this year’s campaign, is on the bench for the seniors against Wales on Saturday when he should win his first cap.
Seniors coach Steve Borthwick said this week that Pollock’s selection was testament to the success of England’s age-grade teams and that he expected many of the current and recent crop to be part of the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
Bath’s Tuipuloto and Exeter duo flyhalf Ben Coen and loose forward Kane James are among the likely contenders but huge flanker Junior Kpoku is a regular with Racing 92 and will remain ineligible for the seniors until he returns to the English Premiership.
Several of the youngsters are expected to be involved in England’s summer tour of Argentina, when many seniors regulars will be absent on duty with the British & Irish Lions in Australia.
(Reporting by Mitch Phillips, editing by Ken Ferris)
Comments