Dragons second row Joe Peard has urged Wales Under-20s to regroup and respond after defeat in the Six Nations opener.
Wales stated their Under-20 Six Nations campaign in disappointing fashion as they were comprehensively beaten by an impressive Ireland side 53-5 in Cork.
Byron Hayward’s side conceded eight tries in total and Peard was under no illusions as to the task this week as the team prepare to face Scotland at Stadiwm Zip World (Parc Eirias) on Friday evening (kick-off 8pm).
“There were a lot of things that were not acceptable, but we have got to look to Scotland and push past it,” said Peard, who started the fixture in Ireland alongside regional team-mates Ben Moa and Oli Andrew, while Morgan Lloyd was a second half replacement.
“I thought our set piece went well and the scrum was quite solid, but it was tough, and our discipline has to change, including myself.
“There were a lot of individual errors, and we can have a look at that. We need to go back through the tape and put it right.
“It was the first caps for a lot of the boys, and it is emotional with a big crowd – it’s certainly the biggest crowd I have ever played in front of.
“It was quite surreal to play in front of such a big crowd, to be honest, and it was tough.
“If you can take any positives, to play in front of a crowd like that was a positive.
“We now hope we get a big crowd in North Wales,” he added.
“It’s a tough first one to build off, but with a good crowd I am hoping we can take it to the Scottish next week.”
There were a lot of things that were not acceptable, but we have got to look to Scotland and push past it..
