Injuries have forced Wales U20s coach Byron Hayward into making changes for Friday’s Six Nations clash with England at Doncaster’s Castle Park (7pm kick-off).
Hooker Efan Daniel and lock Ryan Woodman are both crocked, so Ealing’s Morgan Veness makes his first start in the front row, with Joe Peard returning to the boiler house.
In further changes, Morgan Lloyd comes in at scrum-half, having impressed off the bench in the 26-13 bonus-point victory over Scotland, while Iestyn Hopkins makes his debut at full-back, with Cameron Winnett moving to the wing.
With England suffering a shock 6-0 defeat to Italy in the last round, Hayward is expecting the home side to throw the kitchen sink at Wales as they try to get back to winning ways.
“They’ll be feeling like what we were after the Ireland game [a 53-5 defeat],” he said.
“You’re going back home coming off the back of a defeat and you certainly want to put the score right and redress the balance.
“They are going to be physical and up for it but we hope we have picked a team prepared for that physical battle and to stay in the fight.
“I think if we are in the game in the last 20 minutes anything could happen.”
On injured duo Daniel and Woodman, Hayward said: “They are two boys with massive futures.
“Efan is going to be a top-class professional player and I’d say a full international, no doubt.
“Ryan had his first game at U20s level as a 17-year-old. He had an exceptional debut, so to lose both is a blow.
“Joe [Peard] was very unhappy with his performance against Ireland, so the opportunity comes for him to redeem himself.”
As for Dragons scrum-half Morgan Lloyd, who makes his first start at No. 9, Hayward said: “He was a real calming influence when he came on against Scotland with three try assists.
“His decision-making was very good, he was calm, and his game management was really good, so he gets a first start.”
He continued: “The coaches agreed unanimously Iestyn [Hopkins] deserved a start.
“He has earned the jersey as he has been such a positive influence in training.
“He has trained exceptionally well and gone away and played for Swansea in the Premiership and even dropped down to Dunvant last week to get game time. He has earned the jersey purely by his attitude.”
England show eight changes to the side that lost 6-0 out in Treviso a couple of weeks ago, with Harlequins prop Fin Baxter continuing as captain.
Head coach Alan Dickens said: “We had a tough game against Italy, but we have had almost two weeks to reflect, analyse and plan for our game against Wales.
“There’s been a great energy in camp this week with some more new faces involved.
“The focus has been on us and what we can control. That said, we will need to have the ability to tactically adapt within the game situation.
“Having home crowd support at Castle Park will bolster the boys as we take on a competitive Welsh side.”
England U20s: Henry Arundell; Deago Bailey, Jacob Cusick, Ethan Grayson, Cassius Cleaves; Jamie Benson, Sam Edwards; Fin Baxter, Finn Theobald-Thomas, Will Hobson, Charlie Rice, Alfie Bell, Chandler Cunningham-South, Toby Knight, Emeka Ilione.
Replacements: Joe Vajner, Archie McArthur, Mike Summerfield, Lewis Chessum, Kofi Cripps, Matty Jones, Louie Johnson, Rekeiti Ma’asi White.
Wales U20s: 15. Iestyn Hopkins (Ospreys); 14. Cameron Winnett (Cardiff), 13. Eddie James (Scarlets), 12. Joe Hawkins (Ospreys), 11. Harri Houston (Ospreys); 10. Jac Lloyd (Bristol), 9. Morgan Lloyd (Dragons); 1. Rhys Barrett (Cardiff Met), 2. Morgan Veness (Ealing Trailfinders), 3. Adam Williams (Dragons), 4. Benji Williams (Ospreys), 5. Joe Peard (Dragons), 6. Tom Cowan (Bath), 7. Alex Mann (Cardiff, capt), 8. Ethan Frackrell (Cardiff).
Replacements: 16. Connor Chapman (Dragons), 17. Joe Cowell (Cardiff Met), 18. Nathan Evans (Cardiff), 19. Lewis Jones (Ospreys), 20. Morgan Morse (Ospreys), 21. Archie Hughes (Scarlets), 22. Dan Edwards (Ospreys), 23. Joe Westwood (Dragons).
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