Wales have named their side to host France in round 3 of the U20 Six Nations on Friday night.
The 7.35pm kick off will be shown live on BBC2 Wales, with Stadiwm Zip World the host venue in Colwyn Bay as Wales seek their first victory of the campaign against a French side looking to build on their victory over Italy last time out after a heartbreaker of a defeat to England in the final play of the opening weekend.
Wales Head Coach Gareth Williams has made seven changes to the side that lost to Ireland last time out, with injuries and illness playing a major part in selection decisions this time out.
A number of Exiles are in the starting fifteen row this one, not least at half back where Leicester Tigers’ former Oakham star Sam Costelow, who has been training with the senior side, at fly half and the former Bryanston scrum half Ellis Bevan, not at Cardiff Met Uni, starts alongside him. Meanwhile in the front row Eastbourne College schoolboy Theo Bevacqua starts at loosehead. Marlborough College leaver Archie Griffin is on the bench, as is former Hampton star Gwilym Bradley.
Bevan is one of the seven changes to the starting side, he replaces Dafydd Buckland who now starts from the bench. Meanwhile in the back three it is a full change with Jacob Beetham, Frankie Jones, and Mason Grady coming in for Ewan Rosser, Ioan Lloyd, and Millfield star Dan John.
In the centres Bradley Roderick of the Ospreys comes in for the injured Osian Knott, with Aneurin Owen keeping his place at inside centre, he and Costelow are the only players in the backline that remain from the Ireland game.
In the front row Dom Booth comes in alongside Bevacqua for Will Griffiths, who is on the bench, Ben Warren Starts at tighthead once more. Behind them James Fender comes in for the incurred Jac Price alongside the retained Ben Carter. The back row, meanwhile, is unchanged with Ioan Davies at blindside, Morgan Strong at number 8, and Jac Morgan once again skippering from the openside.
The bench meanwhile sees Callum Williams cover the front row alongside Griffin and Griffiths, while Rhys Thomas and Bradley are the other forward replacements. Alongside Buckland in covering the backs are Joe Hawkins and Josh Thomas, both of the Ospreys.
Speaking to www.wru.wales ahead of the game, Gareth Williams said:
“France have been flag bearers over the last few years in this age group – we look forward to bringing them to Colwyn Bay to face the challenge of going up against them. We are aware of what’s coming but I hope the disappointment from the Ireland game will drive our boys on as that game could have been much closer if we hadn’t committed errors in the first half. Ultimately we just want to keep putting ourselves into those positions.”
Wales U20 XV v France – Friday, 7.35pm, Stadiwm Zip World, Live on BBC2 Wales
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 Dom Booth (Scarlets), 3 Ben Warren (Cardiff Blues), 4 James Fender (Ospreys), 5 Ben Carter (Dragons), 6 Ioan Davies (Cardiff Blues), 7 Jac Morgan (Scarlets, captain), 8 Morgan Strong (Ospreys).
Replacements: 16 Will Griffiths (Dragons), 17 Callum Williams (Scarlets), 18 Archie Griffin (Bath), 19 Rhys Thomas (Ospreys), 20 Gwilym Bradley (Cardiff Blues), 21 Dafydd Buckland (Dragons), 22 Joe Hawkins (Ospreys), 23 Josh Thomas (Ospreys).
