Scarlets trio Jac Pritchard, Osian Williams and Carwyn Leggatt-Jones are again named in the Wales U20s starting line-up as Richard Whiffin’s side prepare to take on France in the second round of the Six Nations Championship at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday night (KO 20:00).
All three impressed in the heartbreaking late loss to England in Northampton last weekend and get the chance to go again against the French.
Dom Kossuth, who picked up a knock after coming off the bench at Franklin’s Gardens is replaced by Burry Port product and former Scarlets Academy back-rower Alex Ridgway, who is now at Bath.
The only change to the starting line-up is enforced. Bath’s Jack Woods picked up a hamstring injury last Friday and is replaced by Rhys Cummings who switches from the wing with Bristol’s Evan Morris coming in to make his debut out wide.
Whiffin said: “The boys after the game against England were obviously disappointed as they know that was one that got away, but by the time we came in on Monday they had managed to recharge at home and were fully refreshed and ready to go for this week.
“Every game is different in its own right and Saturday will be a different entity, but we know we can compete against the bigger teams. We have shown that we are a match for anyone in the competition.
“It will be a different challenge on Saturday as France bring different threats than England, but we go into every game with winning in our minds.
“We go into every game prepping to win and expect a performance which gives us a chance of doing that.
“The thing we are hoping for most is a similar crowd bringing similar noise to when we last played at Cardiff Arms Park against England. The players drew off the crowd so hopefully we can excite the crowd and get them behind us to energize the performance.”
Carwyn Leggatt-Jones kicks for goal against England
Wales U20 v France U20 at Cardiff Arms Park, Sat 14 Feb, 8pm
1 George Tuckley (Dragons RFC)[ 2 Tom Howe (Cardiff Rugby). 3 Jac Pritchard (Scarlets), 4 Luke Evans (Exeter Chiefs), 5 Osian J Williams (Bristol Bears), 6 Osian Williams (Scarlets), 7 Caio James (Gloucester), 8 Deian Gwynne (Gloucester – Co-Capt); 9 Sion Davies (Cardiff Rugby), 10 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets), 11 Tom Bowen (Cardiff Rugby), 12 Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby – Co-Capt), 13 Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff Rugby), 14 Evan Morris (Bristol Bears), 15 Rhys Cummings (Cardiff Rugby).
Replacements: 16 James Talamai (Dragons RFC), 17 Dylan James (Ospreys), 18 Isaac Godfrey (Exeter Chiefs), 19 Tom Cottle (Cardiff Rugby), 20 Evan Minto (Dragons RFC), 21 Alex Ridgway (Bath Rugby), 22 Luca Woodyatt (Gloucester), 23 Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff Rugby).