Blues Hooker Duane Goodfield leads Wales Under-21 in the final round of Six Nations matches at Newport’s Rodney Parade tonight (Friday 17th March) kick off 7.10pm.
Goodfield takes over from number eight Tom Smith, who has a knee injury.
Full-back Jamie Roberts returns to the starting fifteen after missing the Italy match.
“This is the last match for the players to impress before we name the World Cup squad,” said coach Chris Davey.
“And, as we are up against France at the World Cup, there is a lot riding on this match.
“We are also playing Argentina and Georgia at the World Cup, but it would be good if we could strike a psychological blow against France on Friday ahead of the tournament.
France lost for the first time in this season’s campaign to unbeaten England last weekend.
Wales Under-21: Jamie Roberts (Blues Academy); Aled Brew (Ospreys Academy), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Tom Riley (Blues Academy), Chris Czekaj (Cardiff Blues); David Flanigan (Blues Academy), Martin Roberts (Ospreys Academy); Rhys Gill (Blues Academy), Duane Goodfield (Blues Academy, capt), Phil Osborne (Newport), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys Academy), Dominic Day (Scarlets Academy), Ben Lewis (Ospreys Academy), Rhys Shellard (Blues Academy), Adam Powell (Blues Academy).
Replacements: Ed Shervington (Neath), Ian Jones (Llanelli/ Scarlets), Will Jones (Dragons Academy), Craig Everett (Worcester Academy), Tom Cheeseman (Bath Rugby), Liam Davies (Scarlets Academy), Aled Thomas (Dragons Academy).
Wales Under 19s completed the Grand Slam last night in Aberavon after beating France, the decisive victory claimed the Six Nations title and gives the team the perfect platform going into next months U19 World Championships.
“The first part of the season has been hugely encouraging,” said successful coach Burnell. “But we now have to step up a gear or two in Dubai where our first opponents on April 5 are New Zealand.
“The ‘baby Blacks’ will be favourites – when are they not to win any tournament? And we are excited at the prospect of facing them.”
France were flummoxed by the intensity of the opening exchanges in front of the biggest U19 crowd for some years – estimated at 3,300.
With the wind Wales lead at the break 27-6 effectively ending the contest and the second half was nowhere near as exciting a contest.
The first try came from a line-out taken by skipper and Blues Academy player Bradley Davies and his pack drove scrum-half Rob Lewis over the line.
It brought the curtain down on a vibrant Welsh display before the Dubai adventure in a few weeks’ time.