JASON Strange expects a reaction from his Grand Slam winners in their World Rugby U20 Championship finale after Wales’ 11-try humbling at the hands of the Baby Blacks, writes Chris Kirwan.

The Welsh youngster headed into the tournament with high hopes of challenging for the title but have managed just one victory, a tense 10-9 victory against Georgia.

They lost both their Pool A games against Ireland and New Zealand by a point but it was humiliation rather than hard lines at Manchester City Academy Stadium on Monday afternoon when drubbed 71-12 by the Kiwis.

Wales now play Scotland, who were beaten 35-19 by Australia, for seventh place at the Citizens’ ground on Saturday (kick-off 4.30pm).

They beat the Scots 18-15 in the Six Nations thanks to Billy McBryde’s last-gasp penalty and head coach Strange has demanded a response to the New Zealand display.

“We are bitterly disappointed with the performance. The first four minutes set the tone for the game with two early tries, both of them soft,” he said.

“That pretty much summed up the whole of the game and after the first 10 minutes when you are 21-0 down you are thinking of changing things but there is not a lot you can do.

“Full credit to New Zealand, they were excellent, but that performance was not a (fair) reflection of our group at all.

“They will be bitterly disappointed and we’ve got a lot of work to do before Saturday. We knew that New Zealand are a skilful team and if you don’t put pressure on them, you stand off them and you allow them to have quick ball then that (defeat) is what tends to happen.

“If you don't respect the ball when you do get it then it becomes difficult. You’d expect a bit of a response (on Saturday) and I know that the players are hurting.”

Final day fixtures

Manchester City Academy Stadium: 11th place playoff – Japan v Italy (kick-off 12pm); 9th place play-off – France v Georgia (2.15pm); 7th place play-off – Wales v Scotland (kick-off 4.30pm)

AJ Bell Stadium: 5th place play-off – New Zealand v Australia (kick-off 2.30pm); 3rd place play-off – South Africa v Argentina (kick-off 4.45pm); final – England v Ireland (kick-off 7pm)