Scarlets second row Jac Price has reflected on Wales Under-20s’ gripping victory over New Zealand, declaring: “It’s a massive achievement”.
The Carmarthen product, who has started every match of Wales’ World Championship campaign, was at the heart of a dogged display that produced a last-gasp 8-7 win over the Baby Blacks in Rosario.
Price and his team-mates celebrated in style at the final whistle after watching a penalty from fly-half Fergus Burke go wide of the uprights.
And afterwards there was no hiding his delight.
“It is a massive achievement and it was a great feeling at the final whistle,” said Price.
“We said before the game if we beat New Zealand it would be huge for us. We are over the moon.
“New Zealand is a massive rugby nation, not many people can say they have beaten them.
“You could see the character shown by the boys, everyone was digging deep for each other, every tackle and turnover. It was a huge effort.”
A first-half try from centre Tian Thomas-Wheeler put Wales 5-0 ahead until New Zealand struck with a converted try.
But in the final minute, fly-half Cai Evans held his nerve to slot the match-winning kick.
“You don’t get many chances against a side of the quality of New Zealand, thankfully Tiaan took his chance and then Cai landed that kick,” added Price, one of seven Scarlets in Gareth Williams’s squad in Argentina.
“Cai’s kicking is world-class, we rely on him so many times. I was chuffed for him that he kicked the winning one.”
Wales will now play Six Nations rivals England on Saturday to determine who will finish fifth in the tournament.
“It is important we don’t get over-confident,” added Price. “We need to stick to our game-plan again and hopefully finish with another win.”