Wales U20s aim to provide hope in 'dark time'

In a "dark time" for Welsh rugby, Wales Under-20s intend to provide hope and show that not everything is broken.

Richard Whiffin's young side hunt another upset at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday (20:00 GMT) against France in the Six Nations.

They are underdogs – and haven't beaten Les Bleuets since 2020 – but the odds are not as long as they are for the seniors on Sunday.

Last week Wales were agonisingly close to back-to-back wins against England in Northampton only to be hit by a second-half comeback, when the hosts led for the first time in the 75th minute.

"In a dark time in Welsh rugby we showed so much heart," said co-captain Deian Gwynne. "I'm really proud of the boys for fighting so hard."

Wales have not won a title since Jason Strange's Grand Slam-winning side of 2016.

However, results in recent times have been more encouraging and last year's group beat Italy, Ireland and England to finish third.

Wales have endured a nightmare run at senior level of 22 defeats in 24 games – and 12 Six Nations losses on the spin – but the youngsters are mixing it with their peers.

"The team is different every year, so you don't carry previous results as much," said head coach Whiffin, who is in charge of his third Six Nations campaign.

"You start afresh and there is less scar tissue, plus we won three games last year's tournament so the boys know we can compete against the top teams.

"We showed that again last week and I've no doubt it will be the same against France.

"We are in all of these games at age-grade level. The real area that we need to fix is from age 20 to 23 and how we can keep getting experience for those guys."

Whiffin has watched a raft of his former age-grade players with pride.

Morgan Morse won his first cap in November and Louie Hennessey is in the senior Six Nations squad while the likes of Ryan Woodman, Macs Page, Harry Beddall while Aidan Boshoff, Jordan Morris and Matty Young are making good progress at club level.

"The narrative around everything being broken is wrong," said Whiffin. "It takes a bit of time, just look at Ireland's performances in the under-20s over the last three or four years to them navigating through to the senior team.

"It was the same with France's double world championship winning team and England.

"We have had better Six Nations results in recent years, so better players are coming through that will eventually feed into the national senior team.

"We've just got to give them time, nurture them and allow them to make mistakes.

"Let's look after them, let's celebrate them when they do well, but let's not get on their backs too early."

Of the 40 players that made Whiffin's squad in January, 13 are on the books of English clubs.

Just two - prop Dylan James and centre Jack Hoskins – are from the Ospreys, whose future is at risk under the Welsh Rugby Union's plans to cut from four professional men's clubs to three.

"With the contractual situation, the young boys know that they are probably quite safe and that it will affect that middle band," said Whiffin.

"Whatever happens at the top end, if it's four to three and when the national academy comes in, the best young players will be protected.

"It's in the WRU's interests to make sure that the best young players are playing in Wales and contracted here, so they have got a level of security around that.

"That is being narrated to them through us, the WRPA (Welsh Rugby Players Association) and the regions. I don't think that there is the fear over jobs that there might be in the senior game."

Wales went toe-to-toe with England, but need an even stronger display against a France side who beat Ireland 50-21.

The French have won their last five Six Nations meetings with Wales handsomely, but were given a scare at last year's World Rugby U20 Championship, when Whiffin's side led 21-7 at half-time before going down 35-21.

"They bring such threats," admitted Whiffin. "They are big men and are powerful, but then there is the French flair with offloads and finding space."

Wales are forced into one change to their XV with Bath full-back Jack Woods out with the hamstring strain suffered against England.

Bristol's Evan Morris comes in on the wing with Rhys Cummings, one of five Cardiff players in the backs, moving to 15.

Dragons hooker James Talamai and Bath loose forward Alex Ridgway come onto the bench.

Wales U20: Cummings (Cardiff); Morris (Bristol), Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff), Emanuel (Cardiff, co-capt), Bowen (Cardiff); Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets), S Davies (Cardiff); Tuckley (Dragons), Howe (Cardiff), Pritchard (Scarlets), L Evans (Exeter), Osian J Williams (Bristol), Osian Williams (Scarlets), C James (Gloucester), Gwynne (Gloucester, co-capt).

Replacements: Talamai (Dragons), D James (Ospreys), Godfrey (Exeter), Cottle (Cardiff), Minto (Dragons), Ridgway (Bath), Woodyatt (Gloucester), Lucas (Cardiff).