Ethan Fackrell has retained his starting spot for Wales under-20 as France visit Colwyn Bay for the penultimate round of Six Nations action on Thursday (KO 8.00pm).

The Cardiff academy youngster has been ever-present in the number seven jersey during the campaign, but is joined by two new faces in the back row as head coach Byron Hayward makes a total of six changes to his starting XV.

With captain Alex Mann serving his suspension after a red card in the defeat to England, Morgan Morse is handed his first start at number eight. Swansea University’s Ben Gregory also comes in for his first start, replacing the injured Tom Cowan on the blindside.

Cardiff Met’s Joe Cowell, who featured for Cardiff in Europe earlier this season, returns to the loosehead. He replaces Rhys Barratt, who is part of the Blue and Blacks’ travelling contingent to South Africa for the United Rugby Championship double-header.

Elsewhere, Ryan Woodman comes in to partner Benji Williams in the second row with Tom Florence and Bryn Bradley introduced to the backline.

Cardiff academy duo, Cameron Winnett and Nathan Evans, are both included amongst the replacements at Parc Eirias.

France are currently in third place on the points table, just one spot ahead of Wales and Hayward is pin pointing the visitors set piece as a pivotal area to overcome if the home side are to come away victorious.

“We will have to match them physically because once they build momentum and get one or two quick gain lines then it’s very difficult to stop them, so our focus point it so stop it at source,” he said.

“Their biggest threat is their set piece – I think they have stolen the most lineouts in the tournament and they have a strong scrum so they will look to dominate up front.

“They’re big and on average have 16 off-loads a game and that would be the highest in the tournament by quite some way. They are obviously a very direct team, and they look to win collisions, they flood the line with support players to keep the continuity in the game through the offloads.”

Wales U20s v France U20s, Parc Eirias, Thurs 10 March, KO 8pm (BBC2 Wales)
15 Iestyn Hopkins (Ospreys)
14 Harri Houston (Ospreys)
13 Bryn Bradley (Harlequins)
12 Joe Hawkins (Ospreys – Capt)
11 Tom Florence (Ospreys)
10 Jac Lloyd (Bristol Bears)
9 Morgan Lloyd (Dragons);
1 Joe Cowell (Cardiff Met)
2 Morgan Veness (Ealing Trailfinders)
3 Adam Williams (Dragons)
4 Benji Williams (Ospreys)
5 Ryan Woodman (Dragons)
6 Ben Gregory (Swansea University)
7 Ethan Fackrell (Cardiff Rugby)
8 Morgan Morse (Ospreys)

Replacements:
16 Connor Chapman (Dragons)
17 Cameron Jones (Ospreys)
18 Nathan Evans (Cardiff Rugby)
19 Lewis Jones (Ospreys)
20 Ben Moa (Dragons)
21 Harri Williams (Scarlets)
22 Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby)
23 Eddie James (Scarlets)