WALES will take on Australia for fifth spot at the World Rugby U20 Championship after a superb win against Ireland.
The Welsh youngsters ran in three first half tries to take the spoils at the Stadio Luigi Zaffanella in Viadana.
Their reward is a clash with the Aussies, who overcame a resilient Scotland side, in Cremona on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 3.30pm).
Wales suffered group stage losses to France and England after making sluggish starts but they came flying out of the blocks against the Irish.
Ospreys full-back Dafydd Howells raced over after three minutes swiftly followed by Cardiff Blues lock Seb Davies with Jarrod Evans converting the second score for a 12-0 lead.
And they were in dreamland with a 19-0 advantage when Scarlets wing Josh Adams crossed with Cardiff Blues fly-half Evans adding the extras.
Nineteen points had been enough for victory when the sides met in Colwyn Bay in the Six Nations thanks to a stunning defensive display that was led by Newport Gwent Dragons openside Ollie Griffiths, who captained the side in Viadana in the absence of injured Ospreys lock Rory Thornton.
A yellow card for Scarlets back row forward Tom Phillips stalled Wales’ progress yet they made light of having 14 men to stretch their half-time lead to 22-0 through the right boot of Evans.
It was Ireland who started sharply after the resumption and Connacht full-back Ciaran Gaffney went over with Leinster fly-half Joey Carbery adding the conversion to make it 22-7.
Griffiths became the second Welsh player to see yellow but his teammates dug deep to retain their 15-point advantage going into the last quarter.
The Irish had a glimmer of hope when Leinster scrum-half Charlie Rock went over to make it 22-12 but Wales held on for a memorable success.
Wales U20 scorers: tries – D Howells, S Davies, J Adams; conversions – J Evans (2); penalty – J Evans
Ireland U20 scorers: tries – C Gaffney, C Rock; conversions – J Carbery
Other results: semi-finals – England 28 South Africa 20, New Zealand 45 France 7; Fifth-place semi-final – Australia 31 Scotland 21; Ninth-place semi-finals – Argentina 46 Italy 5, Japan 29 Samoa 12
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