Whiffin has made four changes, including a positional switch for Dan Gemine, in a side which is aiming to win back-to-back matches in the championship for the first time since 2020 when Wales defeated France and England in consecutive games.
Bath Rugby’s Jack Woods comes in for Scott Delnevo at full back as the only change in the backline while Bath’s Ioan Emanuel returns to loosehead in place of Louie Trevett.
RGC’s Tom Cottle slots in to the second row with Gemine moving to blindside flanker in a side which is chasing a first victory against Ireland for the first time since a Wales side boasting the likes of Max Llewellyn, Tom Rogers, Tommy Reffell and James Botham won at Donnybrook in 2018.
Listen to Richard Whiffin, Ioan Emanuel and Tomi Bowen here
“The boys did a decent job out in Italy and we were happy with certain aspects of our play against France as well so we’re given the majority of the squad an opportunity to get a home game under their belts at Rodney Parade,” said Whiffin.
“We’re also trying to keep combinations and connections high for the reminder of the tournament. “I think the boys put everything into the two opening games and we played some really good stuff in patches, and I was really pleased for the boys to get over the line against Italy.
“It was a first away win in the Six Nations for five years, so it was great for this group to get used to winning away. It wasn’t pretty at times and there are areas we have looked at where we will need to improve but you could see the reaction of the boys after final whistle.”
With England leading the way in the competition at the top of the table, France, Italy and Ireland are just one point ahead of Wales in second place by a single point, so a rare win against the boys in green would see Whiffin’s side back in contention.
“Any Ireland team are incredibly well coached well organised and always have a couple of trick plays up their sleeve,” said Whiffin, “So they are a team we certainly won’t be taking lightly, we’ll have to be on our mettle for 80 minutes but there are also opportunities for us to stamp our game on to them.”
Wales U20 v Ireland U20, Rodney Parade, Friday 21 Feb, 7.45pm (S4C)
15 Jack Woods (Bath Rugby)
14 Aidan Boshoff (Bristol Bears)
13 Osian Roberts (Sale Sharks)
12 Steff Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby)
11 Tom Bowen (Cardiff Rugby)
10 Harri Wilde (Cardiff Rugby)
9 Logan Franklin (Dragons RFC);
1 Ioan Emanuel (Bath Rugby)
2 Harry Thomas (Scarlets)
3 Sam Scott (Bristol Bears)
4 Kenzie Jenkins (Bristol Bears)
5 Tom Cottle (RGC)
6 Dan Gemine (Ospreys)
7 Harry Beddall (Leicester Tigers)
8 Evan Minto (Dragons RFC)
Replacements
16 Evan Wood (Cardiff Met)
17 Louie Trevett (Bristol Bears)
18 Owain James (Dragons RFC)
19 Luke Evans (Exeter Chiefs)
20 Caio James (Gloucester)
21 Sion Davies (Cardiff Rugby)
22 Harri Ford (Dragons RFC)
23 Elijah Evans (Cardiff Rugby)
