WALES boss Jason Strange doesn’t expect his young charges to go into their shells at next month’s World Rugby U20 when the Grand Slam winners attempt to top a solid group including the holders.

The Six Nations champions will open up the Manchester tournament against Ireland before tackling Georgia and then ending against New Zealand.

The mantra is very much one game at a time, and the Irish will be fuelled by February’s Dublin defeat, but the meeting with the Baby Blacks on Wednesday, June 15 is an exciting one and Wales will hope to head into it with Pool A top spot up for grabs.

“It was my first experience of the tournament last year but what I quickly learnt is that every game and every point is vital,” said head coach Strange.

“If you win your first two games with bonus points then it allows you to go into that third game with confidence plus the chance of being either a group winner or best runner-up in the semi-finals.

“We will have to be on our game throughout the tournament; the first game against Ireland is vital then Georgia will be tough before we take on New Zealand.

“That final game will take care of itself in terms of motivation because there is no better challenge for players and coaches.

“We need to be excited about that – we are Six Nations champions, they are world champions and it will be a great test for us. We need to be playing these games and I wish we could play them more often.”

Wales became European champions by playing an attractive brand of rugby and Strange says that must continue against the world’s best.

“It’s going to be a faster game against New Zealand,” he said. “They play a similar way to the style we are trying to develop with players enjoying having ball in hand and being creative.

“Our mentality is to attack with or without the ball and New Zealand will certainly do that.

“The big message will be that we mustn’t go into our shells and we’ve got to go at them because they are the type of team that if you stand off and be conservative, playing a territory game, then there will only be one winner.”

Strange’s 28-man squad for the tournament includes three Dragons – number eight Harri Keddie, tighthead prop Leon Brown and wing George Gasson.

Three of their regional teammates, wing Jared Rosser, lock Bryce Morgan and centre Connor Edwards, are on the standby list will be involved in the preparations for Manchester which includes a training camp in Monmouth.

Wales’ group fixtures: Ireland – Tuesday, June 7 (Manchester City Academy Stadium, kick-off 5.30pm); Georgia – Saturday, June 11 (Manchester City Academy Stadium (kick-off 3.45pm), New Zealand – Wednesday, June 15 (AJ Bell Stadium, kick-off 5.30pm).

Knockout dates: Monday, June 20; Saturday, June 25