Wales U20s edge out Australia after late drama

Junior World Championship

Australia (17) 36

Tries: Farr-Jones 2, Blank, Whitfeld, Langi, Greenfell Cons: Mackay, Bird 2

Wales (14) 38

Tries: Cummings, Darwin-Lewis 2, Gwynne, penalty Cons: Leggatt-Jones 4 Pen: Leggatt-Jones

Wales Under-20s will take on Scotland for fifth place in the Junior World Championship after edging out Australia in a topsy-turvy game in Tbilisi, Georgia.

The Welsh youngsters claimed a big southern hemisphere scalp for the first time since beating New Zealand in the 2019 tournament.

Wing Rhys Cummings (2), centre Osian Darwin-Lewis, flanker Deian Gwynne crossed for scores and the pack earned a penalty try, while Carwyn Leggatt Jones kicked 11 points.

Australia thought they had won it with a 79th-minute try by Jonty Fowler but it was chalked off after the TMO spotted a knock-on.

Wales held on and beat the Junior Wallabies for the first time since 2018, despite being outscored six tries to five at Avchala Stadium.

Wales will now face Scotland - who beat Argentina 44-26 earlier in Tbilisi - on Friday, 17 July (17:30 BST).

If Richard Whiffin's side repeat their Six Nations victory over the Scots then they will secure their best Junior World Championship finish since being runners-up in 2013.

Wales scored two tries in the opening quarter in all three of their pool games against Georgia, Uruguay and South Africa.

The streak was extended thanks to another fast start against the Junior Wallabies, that despite three big opportunities being narrowly missed inside the first six minutes.

Wales hit the front in the 14th minute when Cummings finished expertly down the right, displaying neat footballing skills to keep Steffan Emanuel's kick in play and then grounding.

Australia lost three players to injury before a quarter of an hour had been played and were also up against it on the scoreboard when centre Darwin-Lewis finished off after a big break by number eight Evan Minto.

Leggatt-Jones added his second conversion but was then shown what was to be a costly yellow card for a deliberate knock-on.

That offence was in the build-up to a Tom Farr-Jones try and the rapid back went over for his second to make it 17-14 after scrum-half Sam Blank had sniped over.

Wales regained the lead in the opening minute of the second half when Cummings hacked on twice and then gathered the loose ball to go over.

Leggatt-Jones converted and then banged over a long-range penalty to make it 24-17, before captain Gwynne crashed over from close range to put his side in command.

Back came the Aussies and wing Riley Whifeld finished acrobatically down the left to make it 31-22 with 55 minutes gone.

With lock Luke Evans given a 20-minute red card for a high tackle, Australian pressure led to a close-range try for prop Edwin Langi.

Wales were creaking but responded with a penalty try after bravely going to the corner despite being a man down, a decision that earned seven points and led to a sin bin for Toby Brial.

Australia responded to move within two points when John Greenfell sneaked over, and there were wild celebrations from those in gold when Fowler raced over down the left.

The conversion took place before the TMO showed the footage that led to Welsh relief and a meeting with the Scots.

Wales Under-20s: Lewis Edwards (Ospreys); Rhys Cummings (Cardiff), Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff), Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff), Tom Bowen (Cardiff); Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets), Sion Davies (Cardiff); Dylan James (Ospreys), Tom Howe (Cardiff), Jac Pritchard (Scarlets), Will Evans (Scarlets), Osian Williams (Bristol), Deian Gwynne (Gloucester, capt), Caio James (Gloucester), Evan Minto (Dragons).

Replacements: Oscar Thomas (Bath), George Leyland (Bristol), Yestyn Cook (Scarlets), Luke Evans (Exeter), Alex Ridgway (Bath), Cai Gealy (Bristol), Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff), Bailey Cutts (Bath).

Yellow card: Leggatt-Jones

20-minute red card: Evans