Jac Morgan has challenged his Wales U20s side to channel the confidence from their win over France as they prepare to take on the old enemy England at Kingsholm on Friday night.
The Scarlets openside has been an outstanding figure at the heart of Wales’ efforts in the opening three rounds of the Championship and is named in a side showing just one change from the rousing win over reigning world champions France at Colwyn Bay last time out.
As well as Morgan, Scarlets front-rowers Dom Booth, Callum Williams and Harri O’Connor are also included in the 23-match squad and are named among the replacements.
“After the first two results we were disappointed but that result against France has been a big boost for the boys,” said Morgan.
“It’s given confidence to the boys and it’s allowed us to grow as a team. We are going to take some positives into the England game.
“Hopefully the weather will be alright on Friday because it was awful during the first three weeks. The game against France at Colwyn Bay was some of the worst conditions I’ve ever played in.
“It took a lot of grit and determination to grind out that result against France but we’ve got other elements to our game and hopefully if the weather is good against England we can go out and express ourselves a bit more.
“Hopefully we can move the ball a bit more and create some chances.”
The one change sees Dragons hooker Will Griffiths replace Booth in the No.2 jersey.
Morgan added: “England have been good so far winning two out of three games. They look like a very tough unit.
“We’ve looked at a lot of their games and they are always tough at age grade level. They’ve got some very dynamic and physical forwards. We’ve got to make sure we front up.”
Wales U20 v England U20, Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester, Friday 6 March, KO 7.45pm
15 Jacob Beetham (Cardiff Blues); 14 Frankie Jones (Aberavon), 13 Bradley Roderick (Ospreys), 12 Aneurin Owen (Dragons), 11 Mason Grady (Cardiff Blues); 10 Sam Costelow (Leicester Tigers), 9 Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Met); 1 Theo Bevacqua (Cardiff Blues), 2 Will Griffiths (Dragons), 3 Ben Warren (Cardiff Blues), 4 James Fender (Ospreys), 5 Ben Carter (Dragons). 6 Ioan Davies (Cardiff Blues), 7 Jac Morgan (Scarlets, capt), 8 Morgan Strong (Ospreys)
Reps: 16 Dom Booth (Scarlets), 17 Callum Williams (Scarlets), 18 Harri O’Connor (Scarlets), 19 Ed Scragg (Dragons), 20 Gwilym Bradley (Cardiff Blues), 21 Dafydd Buckland (Dragons), 22 Joe Hawkins (Ospreys), 23 Luke Scully (Worcester Warriors).