Up and running with a hard-earned victory, Wales Under-20s head coach Danny Wilson is expecting much of the same from his players as they take on last season’s RBS 6 Nations runners-up France.
Up and running with a hard-earned victory, Wales Under-20s head coach Danny Wilson is expecting much of the same from his players as they take on last season’s RBS 6 Nations runners-up France.
But Wilson insists the experience of playing in front out a sell-out crowd will be another test of his side’s character as they look to avenge last season’s 36-16 home defeat at Stade Marcel Michelin – home of European heavyweights Clermont Auvergne.
Wilson has made just one change from the side that defeat Ireland 17-15 last Friday, bringing in Carwyn Jones, who failed a fitness test before the game last week, in place of his replacement Jack Jones.
Fabien Pelous has also chosen to make a few changes after France’s narrow 13-6 win inItaly, with Clermont second row Paul Jedrasiak coming in and captaining the team in the place of Christopher Tolofua who is with Toulouse.
Wilson admits there is still more to come from his side and they can demonstrate the ability to adapt to the differing atmosphere they will experience this evening.
“We are expecting an unbelievable atmosphere in Clermont Ferrand with reports of over 10,000 tickets sold already,” said Wilson. “I went there earlier in the season with the Scarlets and have told the players what to expect.
“It will be like a Heineken Cup game out there, something most of the players would not have experienced before but an experience for them to enjoy and learn a great deal from.
“Consistency is the name of the game at this stage in the tournament. We missed a few attacking opportunities against Ireland last weekend but some of the positives include the strength of character we showed in digging in for the win and our scrum.
“France have a lot of first class experience within their squad and I’m sure they will be determined to put in a polished performance in front of their home crowd.
“We showed glimpses of what we are capable of on Friday night but we are going to need to demonstrate a mature ability to mix things up between playing a tight game and opening things up when the opportunities arise.”
England Under-20 head coach Rob Hunter has made four changes ahead of the trip to face a wounded Irish side with Mark Jennings, Henry Purdy, Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi and Scott Wilson all coming in.
The Ireland Under-20s have won their last three home games, which were all played at Dubarry Park in Athlone, but head coach Mike Ruddock has made several changes and hands a first start to local boy Robbie Henshaw who will appear alongside David Patner and Tom Daly in a new-look backline.
Another making changes following an opening weekend defeat is Scotland head coach Sean Lineen, re-jigging his pack to include Phil Cringle at tight-head in place of D’arcy Rae and Tommy Spinks making his first start at blindside flanker ahead of Ruaridh Leishman as they take on Italy.