adamkungl
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Wales,
one of the sport's bigger European hopes, had a tough time of it in 2017. They took a young team up against a rampaging PNG in the Port Moresby humidity and things didn't improve much from there.
2018 was an improvement, comfortably putting scores on Ireland and Scotland to qualify early for the World Cup, despite being outclassed by France.
2019 was all quiet on the test front, with only a couple of domestic development internationals played.
In 2020 they'll take on Ireland and Spain in the Euros and will be hoping to make a statement in that group and get to a final.
If they're lucky, Australia or England might visit for a game around the Kangaroo Tour Ashes series.
Wales u19s will also take part in the Championships in Italy, with players hoping to push for World Cup selection.
They've named a high performance squad going into the WC
https://www.nospam18.com/wales/wales-elite-train-on-squad-revealed-for-next-2-years
Here's their best possible:
1 Aekins (Penrith)
2 Grace (St Helens)
3 Butler (Huddersfield)
4 Kear (Salford)
5 Williams (Salford)
6 Ralph (Easts QLD)
7 Green (Bradford)
8 Flower (Wigan)
9 Fozard (London)
10 Dudson (Salford)
11 Kopczak (Wakefield)
12 Lloyd (Swinton)
13 Knowles (St Helens)
14 Davies (Halifax)
15 Bennion (Swinton)
16 Evans (Toulouse)
17 Fleming (Halifax)
As usual in recent times, they struggle to put up a full 17 or even 13 with first grade football behind them. They have no halves (to my knowledge) in SL or NRL squads, and unfortunately a number of the above players are either uncapped or haven't represented Wales in some time, so their willingness to play is unknown. Taking into account injuries too, it's reasonably certain that a heavy Championship and League 1 contingent will end up taking the field.
On the upside though, the squad will be older and wiser by 2021 having played a few years together. Guys like Grace, Kear, Williams, Kopczak and Knowles have shown loyalty and will no doubt be raring to go in 2021.
Regan Grace in particular will be primed to light up the tournament, hitting his best years and playing at Super League's strongest club. He can do things on his feet that only Roger Tuivasa-Sheck can match in the sport.
WC Pool Opponents:
Tonga
PNG
Cook Islands
Crucial Game: There's no easy game for them. Tonga are obviously 2 steps ahead, Cook Islands won't be a simple task, and PNG put up a big score in their last meeting.
But, assuming they can handle the Cookies, the game vs PNG is the obvious one to look forward to. The winner of this game is likely to progress to the quarter finals. Wales need a huge swing from 2017.
Predicted Finish: Pool exit in 3rd place
Difficult to see them beating PNG and maybe even Cook Islands might be a tough one. Heading in the right direction after a low point through the last decade, but they still need to get more players moving up through the grades before they are a real threat. Would love to be wrong about this!
one of the sport's bigger European hopes, had a tough time of it in 2017. They took a young team up against a rampaging PNG in the Port Moresby humidity and things didn't improve much from there.
2018 was an improvement, comfortably putting scores on Ireland and Scotland to qualify early for the World Cup, despite being outclassed by France.
2019 was all quiet on the test front, with only a couple of domestic development internationals played.
In 2020 they'll take on Ireland and Spain in the Euros and will be hoping to make a statement in that group and get to a final.
If they're lucky, Australia or England might visit for a game around the Kangaroo Tour Ashes series.
Wales u19s will also take part in the Championships in Italy, with players hoping to push for World Cup selection.
They've named a high performance squad going into the WC
https://www.nospam18.com/wales/wales-elite-train-on-squad-revealed-for-next-2-years
Here's their best possible:
1 Aekins (Penrith)
2 Grace (St Helens)
3 Butler (Huddersfield)
4 Kear (Salford)
5 Williams (Salford)
6 Ralph (Easts QLD)
7 Green (Bradford)
8 Flower (Wigan)
9 Fozard (London)
10 Dudson (Salford)
11 Kopczak (Wakefield)
12 Lloyd (Swinton)
13 Knowles (St Helens)
14 Davies (Halifax)
15 Bennion (Swinton)
16 Evans (Toulouse)
17 Fleming (Halifax)
As usual in recent times, they struggle to put up a full 17 or even 13 with first grade football behind them. They have no halves (to my knowledge) in SL or NRL squads, and unfortunately a number of the above players are either uncapped or haven't represented Wales in some time, so their willingness to play is unknown. Taking into account injuries too, it's reasonably certain that a heavy Championship and League 1 contingent will end up taking the field.
On the upside though, the squad will be older and wiser by 2021 having played a few years together. Guys like Grace, Kear, Williams, Kopczak and Knowles have shown loyalty and will no doubt be raring to go in 2021.
Regan Grace in particular will be primed to light up the tournament, hitting his best years and playing at Super League's strongest club. He can do things on his feet that only Roger Tuivasa-Sheck can match in the sport.
WC Pool Opponents:
Tonga
PNG
Cook Islands
Crucial Game: There's no easy game for them. Tonga are obviously 2 steps ahead, Cook Islands won't be a simple task, and PNG put up a big score in their last meeting.
But, assuming they can handle the Cookies, the game vs PNG is the obvious one to look forward to. The winner of this game is likely to progress to the quarter finals. Wales need a huge swing from 2017.
Predicted Finish: Pool exit in 3rd place
Difficult to see them beating PNG and maybe even Cook Islands might be a tough one. Heading in the right direction after a low point through the last decade, but they still need to get more players moving up through the grades before they are a real threat. Would love to be wrong about this!
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