Richard Whiffin has named five Cardiff Rugby players in his Wales U20 side to take on Spain U20 in Thursday’s second round of Pool A clashes in the U20 World Championship at Athlone Sports Stadium in Cape Town (UK 1pm).
Backs Kodi Stone, Steff Emmanuel, Elijah Evans and Matty Young are all selected in the starting XV, with Harri Wilde on the bench.
He has made sweeping changes to the side that lost narrowly to New Zealand in the opening match on Saturday with only winger Harry Rees-Weldon, captain Ryan Woodman along with second row Jonny Green and back row Morgan Morse returning for a second consecutive start.
Wales will be buoyed by their stirring second half display against New Zealand where they ate into a 21-point deficit to eventually secure a losing bonus point along with a try bonus point to keep themselves in the hunt for a semi-final berth.
“We always felt we would finish the game strongly with the bench we had so we were pleased with that aspect of the game but we were disappointed New Zealand got three scores ahead of us which included a couple of long range tries – they had a very good skillset which we struggled to deal with at times but it was a really courageous performance to come back into the game,” said Whiffin.
“I thought the changes we made in the second half saw a real impact on the pitch.
“We took two bonus points away from the game, one for a four-try bonus and one for losing within seven points so it keeps us alive in the pool to qualify for the top round of the semis so that is a big focus for us going forward.
“We saw Spain put up a really dogged performance against France – it took France a long time to put them away.
“They have got massive energy and they will cause us problems but we came into the tournament confident that we would challenge in every single game so we obviously now turn our attentions to Spain who are next up.
“It was always part of the plan to give as may players as possible a start in the opening two games and I’m confident the boys selected will go out and do a great job.”
Wales U20 v Spain U20, Thurs 4 July, Athlone Sports Stadium, Cape Town, KO 1pm UK
1 Ioan Emanuel (Bath Rugby)
2 Harry Thomas (Scarlets)
3 Kian Hire (Ospreys)
4 Jonny Green (Harlequins)
5 Nick Thomas (Dragons)
6 Ryan Woodman (Dragons - Capt)
7 Morgan Morse (Ospreys)
8 Owen Conquer (Dragons RFC)
9 Rhodri Lewis (Scarlets)
10 Harri Ford (Dragons RFC)
11 Kodi Stone (Cardiff Rugby)
12 Steff Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby)
13 Elijah Evans (Cardiff Rugby)
14 Harry Rees-Weldon (Dragons RFC)
15 Matty Young (Cardiff Rugby)
Replacements
16 Isaac Young (Scarlets)
17 Jordan Morris (Dragons RFC)
18 Sam Scott (Bristol Bears)
19 Osian Thomas (Leicester Tigers)
20 Will Austin (Sale Sharks)
21 Ieuan Davies (Bath Rugby)
22 Harri Wilde (Cardiff Rugby)
23 Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby)