Round 4 is a series of return fixtures from the previous weekend with the Ravens hoping to complete the double over their visitors after securing their first win of the campaign under new head coach Scott Baldwin at St Helen’s five days ago.
Their 27-24 win allowed Whiffin and his fellow coach Richie Pugh and team manager Andy Lloyd to run the rule over a number of candidates for this season’s Wales U20 squad, as well as check on the progress of recent graduates.
“The age profile of the league has changed dramatically, and we’ve been delighted with the buy in we’ve had from all 10 clubs and the regions. The revamped league is doing what we hoped it would do for us,” said Whiffin.
“Carmarthen Quins captain Tom Phillips, who also coaches the Scarlets U18 team, captured the change perfectly when he said that he was this season playing against many more new faces than in the past.
“We saw teenage lock Will Evans pick up the man of the match award for Llandovery at Pontypool in the first game, Tom Bowen notch a hat-trick on his debut for Cardiff RFC in RGC and then another of last year’s U18 and U20 squads, Steff Emanuel, put in some great performances for Cardiff.
“We’ve been able to get out and about to SRC, BUCS and WSC U18 Rugby games to run the rule over our best young talent throughout the week and then we come together with Rob Howley on a Monday to review it all.
“So many of these young players might have been stuck in their academies and either not playing or simply holding the tackle bags in training. Now they are getting the chances they need and deserve in SRC and BUCS rugby.
“It means that by the time we move into the U20 Six Nations campaign in February 2025 most of our players will have had nine or 10 games at a very decent level under their belts. That is great for us.”
But it’s not just the candidates for Wales U20 that Whiffin is checking out. He is also keeping on eye on the development of players just out of the age-grade system, like Ospreys academy player Tom Florence. He will be in action for Bridgend against Swansea and has already impressed with the amount of metres and carries he has made in the tournament to date.
There have also been solid performances from some of the older, semi-pro players in the league, who provide the glue in their teams and help the youngsters around them. Scott Matthews, now defence coach as well as back row stalwart at Pontypool, tops the turn-over table, while Morgan Allen has been the best ball carrier to date.
Former Wales U20 Grand Slammer Billy McBryde has returned to RGC to turn them into a major force on home soil, while the 39-year-old former Wales World Cup Sevens winner Aled Thomas went through 600 points for Carmarthen Quins last weekend.
“The ball in play time is going up, the contests are getting closer and the product is improving. There is no doubt SRC matches are becoming bigger tests for both our younger and older players,” added Whiffin.
“It’s great to see Aled Thomas providing a mentoring role for the likes of 18-year-old outside half Elis Price at the Quins, in much the same way that Adam Warren helped to bring on Macs Page at Llandovery last season. There is a big role to be played by the senior pros at all the clubs.”
It took a late try from Chris Williams to get Baldwin’s Ravens side over the line last weekend and they will be taking nothing for granted in the return fixture as Swansea seek their first win of the campaign. Williams gets the nod at scrum half after his heroics last weekend, while Evan Yardley and Liam Tobias come into the front row.
It’s an all Ospreys second row with Evan Hill and debutant Lewis Jones selected, while in the back row Barnaby Waddell moves to No 6 to join skipper Zac O’Driscoll and Tom Jevons. Swansea have skipper Callum Bowden back on duty in their back row.
The home will do well not to surrender any kicks at goal to the Whites as another ex-Wales U20 cap, Josh Phillips, has a 100% record off the tee so far this season.
Bridgend: Edd Howley; Mccauley Rowley, Ryan Wilkins, Tom Florence, Jake Thomas; Ben Burnell, Chris Williams; Harry Olding, Evan Yardley, Liam Tobias, Evan Hill, Lewis Jones, Barnaby Waddell, Zac O’Driscoll (captain), Tom Jevons
Reps: Curtis Greenslade, Alex George, James Williams, Alfie Llewellyn, Jordan Collier, Kyle Harris, Harvey Nash, Tommy MorganSwansea: Lewis Edwards; Tom Edwards, Joe Thomas, Callum Carson, Callum Dodd; Josh Phillips, Matthew Aubrey; Ed Thompson, Will Austin, Chris Davies, Chris Thompson, Ben Roberts, Geraint Powell, Callum Bowden (captain), Cai Davies
Reps: Dom Hey, Freddie Chapman, Kian Hire, Sam Pailor, Dan Gemine, Aaron Hemmings, Harri Williams, Brandon Wood
