Wales head to northwest France to tackle the home side on Saturday at Stade de la Rabine in Vannes in the opening round of the championship. (KO 8.10pm, S4C)
It will be the first time Wales have played at the ground since 2019 where a side containing seven of Warren Gatland’s current senior side, suffered defeat.
There are four uncapped players in the starting XV with Dragons halfback Logan Franklin the only back making his debut behind the scrum.
Up front Bristol Bears second row Kenzie Jenkins joins back row partners Deian Gwynne (Gloucester) and Evan Minto (Dragons) as the new caps in the engine room.
“It was a tough team to pick as a lot of guys have put their hands up over the past couple of weeks,” admitted Whiffin. “Where we’ve come to is a team full of pace, speed and power and ultimately in skill and that is how we want to attack the game on Saturday.
“We’ve got boys with experience who know how we want to play and can help the younger boys in terms of our game model. The younger guys come in with a fresh view and new ideas and have an opportunity to push our game forward.”
🚨 𝗧î𝗺 𝗖𝘆𝗺𝗿𝘂 𝗼 𝗱𝗮𝗻 𝟮𝟬 🏴
Here is your Wales U20s 2️⃣3️⃣ for our @SixNationsU20 opener 🆚 @FranceRugby on Saturday night at the Stade de la Rabine, 20:10 KO! 🔥👇#U20SixNations | #FRAvWAL
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) January 30, 2025
Leicester Tigers flanker Harry Beddall will lead the side from the side of the scrum and Whiffin is hoping his actions set the tone for the group.
“Harry is someone who has high emotional intelligence and understands the game and is a good barometer of the group. On game day he is someone who leads by example,” he said.
France will begin the game as pre-match favourites in front of a partisan crowd but Whiffin said his side are aiming to go into the game and express themselves.
“It’s important defensively we get off the line and take their space away and bring our jackal game into it and from an attack point of view, being able to put our speed and pace into the game and being smart around our kicking game will be vital,” he said.
Wales U20s v France U20s, Sat 1st Feb, Stade de la Rabine, 8.10pm
15 Scot Delnevo (Aberavon)
14 Harry Rees-Weldon (Dragons)
13 Elijah Evans (Cardiff Rugby)
12 Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby)
11 Aidan Boshoff (Bristol Bears)
10 Harri Wilde (Cardiff Rugby)
9 Logan Franklin (Dragons);
1 Ioan Emanuel (Bath Rugby)
2 Harry Thomas (Scarlets)
3 Sam Scott (Bristol Bears)
4 Kenzie Jenkins (Bristol Bears)
5 Nick Thomas (Dragons)
6 Deian Gwynne (Gloucester)
7 Harry Beddall (Leicester Tigers) Capt
8 Evan Minto (Dragons)
Replacements
16 Saul Hurley (Aberavon)
17 Louie Trevett (Bristol Bears)
18 Jac Pritchard (Scarlets)
19 Tom Cottle (RGC)
20 Dan Gemine (Ospreys)
21 Carwyn Edwards (Cardiff Met)
22 Harri Ford (Dragons)
23 Tom Bowen (Cardiff Rugby)
