Wales U20s will face France in their final pool-stage match of the World Rugby U20 Championship on Tuesday, July 4 (3.30pm UK kick-off time).
Defending champions France need only avoid defeat at Athlone Sports Stadium and their quest to secure a third successive U20 Championship trophy will continue, but if Wales can manage a bonus-point victory it will be the men in red who would head into the knockout stages top of Pool A to leave the reigning champions sweating on a potential best runners-up spot.
Wales did, however, lose to Les Bleuets during the 2023 U20s Six Nations by a heavy scoreline of 67-17, although significant improvements have been made since then. Under the new guidance of head coach Mark Jones, Wales U20s lost by a single point to New Zealand U20s in their opener and then bounced back to beat Japan 41-19.
Here's everything you need to know about the game:
What time is Wales U20s v France kick-off?
Wales U20s v France kicks off at 3.30pm UK time/4.30pm local time on Tuesday, July 4, at Athlone Sports Stadium in Cape Town.
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What TV channel is Wales U20s v France on? What about live streaming?
Wales U20s v France will be broadcast live on S4C if you can get in front of a TV.
You can watch a live online stream here.
What's the team news?
Wales interim coach Jones has made five changes to his starting line-up to target a first win over the young men in blue since 2020.
“You can definitely feel there's more of a belief in this group,” Wales assistant coach Richie Pugh said. “We’re identifying what they're about, but we're not putting them up on that pedestal. We're talking about how we're going to win and the fact that we're mentioning winning, is a testament to where we're at. We've got an opportunity, a huge opportunity. It's exciting. But we're going into it believing that we can qualify [for the] top four.”
Les Bleuets coach Sébastien Calvet has made 11 changes to the team that beat New Zealand on Thursday with Nicolas Depoortère taking on the captaincy.
“I've already captained in the Six Nations tournament. It's a role that I enjoy and that I take very seriously. I do everything I can to respect it,” Depoortère said. “At the very start of this tournament, Seb [Calvet] set out three leaders, three captains and here on the pitch against Wales, that's me. We're going to do everything we can to lead the team to victory and provide the right leadership to win this match."
Wales U20s: 15. Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby), 14. Tom Florence (Ospreys), 13. Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby), 12. Bryn Bradley (Harlequins), 11. Harri Houston (Ospreys), 10. Dan Edwards (Ospreys), 9. Archie Hughes (Scarlets), 1. Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (Dragons RFC), 2. Sam Scarfe (Dragons RFC), 3. Kian Hire (Ospreys), 4. Liam Edwards (Ospreys), 5. Jonny Green (Harlequins), 6. Ryan Woodman (Dragons RFC – capt), 7. Seb Driscoll (Harlequins), 8. Morgan Morse (Ospreys).
Replacements: 16. Lewis Lloyd (Ospreys), 17. Josh Morse (Scarlets), 18. Louis Fletcher (Ospreys), 19. Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff Rugby), 20. Gwilym Evans (Cardiff Rugby), 21. Joe Westwood (Dragons RFC), 22. Harri Wiilde (Cardiff Rugby), 23. Harri Williams (Ampthill).
France U20s: T Attissogbe; N Depoortere (capt), M Biasotto, A Mathiron, M Moustin; C Mondinat, L Carbonneau; L Julien, B Massa, Z Affane, B Liufau, P Tuilagi, E Capilla, A Timo, M Castro-Ferreira.
Replacements: T Lacombre, A Kaddouri, T Duchene, L Nouchi, N Zinzen, B Jauneau, H Reus, P Coste.
What about New Zealand and Japan?
New Zealand U20s v Japan also kicks off on Tuesday, at 3pm UK time.
It is unlikely that the Baby Blacks will force their way to the top of Pool A but they will want to beat Japan in order to gain as high a seeding as they can.
New Zealand coach Clark Laidlaw has made eight changes to the team that was handed their heaviest defeat in U20 Championship history (35-14) by France on day two, while Japan coach Rob Penney has made 12 changes to the team that will take on New Zealand as they seek a first-ever pool stage victory.
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