Sam returns to Wales U20s side for England test

Rob Lloyd News

Scarlets fly-half Sam Costelow returns to the Wales starting line-up for Wednesday’s U20s Six Nations clash with Grand Slam-chasing England in Cardiff  (KO 8pm, LIVE S4C).

Sam is joined by Scarlets team-mate Carwyn Tupulotu in the run-on side with scrum-half Harri Williams and centre Eddie James named among the replacements.

Injuries to loose-head prop Garyn Phillips and second row Dafydd Jenkins have forced head coach Ioan Cunningham into further changes, with Rhys Thomas earning his first start at lock while Theo Bevacqua, who was a late change prior to the game against France, starts in the number one shirt.

Cunningham said: “You can feel a bit of an edge when it comes to these big games and the boys are really looking forward to putting a performance together on the park against England.

“They are a physical team, very well coached and well organised. They possess a powerful driving lineout so again it will come down to discipline, we can’t give England penalties around the halfway mark as they will kick to the corner, and it will be a hard afternoon defending the lineout otherwise – managing the middle third and halfway line is going to be key for us.”

Wales U20 v England U20, Cardiff Arms Park, Wednesday 7th July, KO 8pm (Live S4C)

15 Jacob Beetham (Cardiff Rugby); 14 Daniel John (Exeter Chiefs), 13 Ioan Evans (Pontypridd), 12 Joe Hawkins (Ospreys), 11 Tom Florence (Ospreys); 10 Sam Costelow (Scarlets), 9 Ethan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby); 1 Theo Bevacqua (Cardiff Rugby), 2 Oli Burrows (Exeter Chiefs), 3 Lewys Jones (Nevers), 4 Joe Peard (Dragons), 5 Rhys Thomas (Ospreys), 6 Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs), 7 Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby – capt),  8 Carwyn Tuipulotu (Scarlets)Replacements: 16 Efan Daniel (Cardiff Rugby), 17 Cameron Jones (Ospreys), 18 Nathan Evans (Cardiff Rugby), 19 James Fender (Ospreys), 20 Tristan Davies (Ospreys), 21 Harri Williams (Scarlets), 22 Will Reed (Dragons), 23 Carrick McDonough (Dragons). 24 Morgan Richards (Dragons/Pontypridd), 25 Eddie James (Scarlets), 26 Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby).