BOSS Gareth Williams believes Wales are in good shape for the World Rugby U20 Championship despite a losing finish to the Six Nations.

The Welsh youngsters finished the tournament with back-to-back defeats, downed 27-20 after a poor performance in Scotland and 26-17 by an Ireland side that secured the Grand Slam.

They pushed the champions hard in Colwyn Bay with Dragons centre Aneurin Owen scoring in the first half and flanker Jac Morgan crashing over in the second after a searing break by Scarlets wing Ryan Conbeer.

They led 17-14 with eight minutes left but the Irish came storming back late to take the spoils and earn a clean sweep.

Head coach Williams was pleased with the effort of Wales, who were without influential Dragons back row forwards Taine Basham and Lennon Greggains because of the region’s injury worries.

“We were really disappointing in Scotland and were honest in our view of it and the mentality that we felt we took into it,” said Williams, who is in his first season in the role after previously being in charge of the national sevens side.

“That was not in question against Ireland and that is credit to the boys; that is part of their learnings as young professional players.”

Wales now plot for June’s World Rugby Championship when they will lock horns with hosts Argentina, reigning champions France and Fiji.

“We have been very proud of four of the five performances that we have put in,” said Williams.

“We take a lot from it, they are a young group and the main thing is that we kick on with these boys and work hard as a group.

“We come back in a month for the world cup camp and put those little things in place that do allow us to push forward.

“The World Cup is the culmination of this development programme and we will go there with aspirations.”