WALES will face Italy for seventh spot in the World Rugby U20 Championship after suffering late anguish against Scotland in Tbilisi, writes Chris Kirwan.

After getting their campaign up and running with a thumping win against Samoa following group losses to Australia and England, it seemed that Dragons fly-half Arwel Robson’s try had secured another encounter with the Aussies for fifth.

However, they conceded a converted try with four minutes left to see a 25-22 lead turn into a 29-22 defeat.

It was a familiar tale of missed opportunities for Jason Strange’s team, who have lost all three tight games in the tournament.

The Six Nations clash between the sides in Cumbernauld was a remarkable game that Wales won 65-34 by eight tries to six. The fixture in Georgia was another entertaining one.

The Scots started strongly in the sun of Avchala Stadium but Wales soaked up the pressure and grew into the game only for familiar problems to hinder them.

They made three trips to the Scottish 22 but failed to take their chances before, thanks to defence, they went into the lead in the 15th minute.

Centre Ioan Nicholas intercepted and then traded passes with midfield partner Owen Lane before putting captain and flanker Will Jones over for a 5-0 lead.

However, Scotland swiftly struck back with a lovely score down the left where wing Darcy Graham was put over by Edinburgh full-back Blair Kinghorn.

Fly-half Connor Eastgate converted and it was 14-5 when centre Ross McCann finished strongly after Wales lost a lineout in their 22.

The scores kept coming and it was back to a two-point game when Dragons fly-half Arwel Robson made a superb break from a scrum and put Nicholas under the sticks.

But Wales were 19-12 down at the break after conceding a try from a driving lineout to captain and lock Callum Hunter-Hill and it took an excellent defensive effort by lock Will Griffiths to prevent a repeat from the final play of the half.

The second half was nip and tuck with both sides working openings but failing to take them and it was 22-18 to the Scots entering the final quarter, Robson banging over two penalties to one by Eastgate.

And it was the Dragons man who put Wales into the front with 10 minutes remaining when he finished majestically down the right wing, the TMO giving the thumbs-up, after a flowing backs move had worked into the 22.

Not only did the fly-half show athleticism to cross but he displayed technique to slot the conversion from the touchline for a 25-22 lead.

But Wales failed to claim the restart cleanly and were straight back under pressure with the Scots working to the line before wing Graham dashed over from the 19th phase of a patient attack, Eastgate making it 29-25 with three left.

Strange’s side couldn’t conjure a winner, leaving them to face Italy at 10am on Sunday.

Wales scorers: tries – W Jones, I Nicholas, A Robson; conversions – A Robson (2); penalties – A Robson (2)

Scotland scorers: tries – D Graham (2), R McCann, C Hunter-Hill; conversions – C Eastgate (3); penalty – C Eastgate