Wales lose to New Zealand Under-20s by a single point after epic performance

Wales began their Under-20s World Championship campaign with a narrow defeat at the hands of New Zealand in Paarl on Saturday.

A blistering first half saw Wales take command courtesy of tries from Lewis Lloyd, Dan Edwards and Morgan Morse, after Caleb Tangitau initially set the Baby Blacks on their way with an early opener.

But New Zealand came roaring back after the break, with Macca Springer, Sam Hainsworth and Che Clark all scoring.

Sam Scarfe went over late on after New Zealand's Gabe Robinson was shown a late yellow card, but it was too little too late for Wales, although a bonus point will likely be some cause for comfort.

Indeed, while a disappointing result, this was a performance oozing with positives for Wales, particularly after a miserable Six Nations campaign earlier this year, and the subsequent resignation of Byron Hayward. It also means they pick up two losing bonus points, which could yet prove significant ahead of matches against Japan and France.

Interim boss Mark Jones will have been particularly pleased by the intensity shown by his side at times, and the fight in the face of what was a second-half onslaught from New Zealand.

Wales actually got off to something of a shaky start, with Tangitau on hand to finish off a slick setpiece after Wales were penalised for offside.

But they soon regained their composure, and came close to a reply on 15 minutes, only for Morse to be held up agonisingly short of the line.

Nevertheless, the Welsh belief continued to grow, with some perfectly executed mauling continually pushing New Zealand on the back foot.

Midway inside the first half, they found their breakthrough.

A slick lineout allowed Lloyd to nip in at the base of the ball before crashing over for the try.

Moments