Preview: England U20s vs Wales U20s (Friday, 7:15pm)
England U20s will be looking to secure back-to-back wins in the Six Nations on Friday night for the first time since their Grand Slam triumph in 2021 as they take on neighbours Wales.
New head coach Mark Mapletoft won his first Six Nations encounter in charge of England last Friday as they ran out 36-11 winners away in Italy courtesy of back row Henry Pollock’s hat-trick.
Wales also began their campaign with a win as they beat Scotland 37-29 thanks to winger Walker Price’s brace of tries in round one.
The Anglo-Welsh clash takes place at Bath’s Recreation Ground where there is expected to be a crowd of near 10,000.
Leicester Tigers‘ Finn Carnduff will captain the side again after scoring a try and assist in the win over Italy, as well as leading round one in breakdown steals (two), cleanouts (five, alongside Craig Wright and Junior Kpoku) and lineout takes (nine), and will be providing the back-row ballast alongside Pollock and Nathan Michelow.
Saracens’ Michelow replaces Zach Carr to win his seventh cap in the only alteration to the starting pack.
Ben Redshaw moves further infield to partner Newcastle Falcons teammate Ollie Spencer in the centres replacing injured Harlequins midfielders Sean Kerr and Ben Waghorn.
Ioan Jones assumes the 15 shirt for his first U20 start, while Northampton Saints scrum-half Archie McParland makes his debut after pulling out of the warm up in Treviso last weekend with an illness.
Former Wales U18s back row Kane James could also earn his first U20 cap from the replacement bench.
Scrum coach Nathan Catt said: “We had a really productive week at Bisham Abbey and that’s been reflected in our output in meetings, skills sessions and on-field training. We have a positive mindset going into Friday.
“Matches against Wales are always special occasions with each side fighting for bragging rights, we expect high intensity from a Welsh team that will feel confident after last week’s result.
“Of course, it’s fantastic to be returning back to Bath where I spent my career as a player and a coach, I’m sure our home support will be eager to cheer us on to another positive result as we look to build momentum into this tournament.”
Wales head coach Richard Whiffin has handed a debut to Patrick Nelson and has called up fellow prop Freddie Chapman.
Leicester flanker Harry Beddall steps up from the bench with Lucas de la Rua switching to blind-side and Osian Thomas moving to the second row.
Whiffin said: “The boys that played against Scotland did a great job but we saw this as an opportunity to bring some new guys in for England.
“They have an opportunity to match the muscle in set piece and also provide a bit of difference around the field.
“We’ve got big and physical guys playing week in, week out playing regional rugby and we’re ready to take England on and go toe to toe with them.
“But as we saw in the Scotland game we’ve got the skill to play as well.”
Wales have lost their previous three meetings with England since their last win in 2020 and the reverse fixture last year finished 37-21 to the visitors in Colwyn Bay.
Written by BEN JAYCOCK
ENGLAND: Jones, Cousins, Redshaw, Spencer, Wills, Taylor, McParland; Opoku-Fordjour, Wright, Sela, Sodeke, Kpoku, Carnduff (c), Pollock, Michelow
Replacements: Oliver, Kirk, Halliwell, Bailey, James, Douglas, Bellamy, Makepeace-Cubitt
WALES: Anderson, Rees-Weldon, Hennessey, Ackerman (c), Price, Wilde, Davies; Chapman, Thomas, Nelson, Green, O Thomas, De La Rua, Beddall, Morse
Replacements: Wood, Morris, Scott, N Thomas, Conquer, Lewis, Ford, Page
