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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Katie Sands

Wales Under-20s score try from the Gods as All Blacks legend blown away

Byron Hayward's young Wales side may have come off second best in their opening U20s Six Nations match to Ireland on Friday night, but they showed plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

Wales U20s were on the wrong side of a 44-27 scoreline in Colwyn Bay, but the young side featuring 10 new caps at this level claimed a bonus point for scoring four tries, played some thrilling rugby and enjoyed the adventure against an Irish starting XV which was sprinkled with Leinster academy players and boasting impressive forward power.

One particular moment of Welsh brilliance came in the form of a sensational five-pass try from the backs, which has even drawn praise from All Blacks legend Sonny Bill Williams who called it "poetry in motion".

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Nineteen minutes in, Wales recycled the ball at a ruck, with scrum-half Archie Hughes firing the ball away into the hands of No. 12 Harri Ackerman, whose smooth hands immediately offloaded to his midfield partner Louie Hennessey.

As the No. 13 was brought down by a heavy Ireland shot, he managed to release the ball to full-back Cameron Winnett, who in turn sent it out the back door into the arms of fly-half Dan Edwards, who threw right to Llien Morgan on the wing to run in and score.

All in all, from ruck to try, it took just 11 seconds, and took Wales to 15-7 in the opening half.

The footage on social media prompted All Blacks legend Sonny Bill Williams to say: "I remember being told off for trying the back flick/offloading when I first started playing union, poetry in motion lads".

Hennessey shared that message on social media with an emoji of a goat, depicting the "greatest of all time".

It wasn't the only promising sign from the hosts, but Ireland's greater power told in the second half. Read the full Wales U20s v Ireland match report here.

Read more:

Wales host Ireland in Six Nations opener today

Today's rugby news as coaches convince Gatland to change Wales team and Jamie Roberts backs one-point win

The making of Joe Hawkins and the video that so impressed his team-mates

Wales 27-44 Ireland U20s: Young Welsh team pegged back as six-try visitors turn on power

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