Head coach Richard Whiffin has named five Blue and Blacks in his Wales men’s U20 side to take on Italy U20 at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday 13 June (KO 4.30pm).

Steff Emanuel and Osian Darwin-Lewis form the centre partnership, while Tom Cottle, Sion Davies and Harri Wilde are named on the bench.

Whiffin has made wholesale changes with fly half Harri Ford, winger Ioan Duggan and No.8 Evan Minto the only survivors from the side which lost heavily to England last Friday at Pontypool Park.

“We wanted to use the England game as an opportunity for some guys that hadn’t had much game time to experience top end match action and this Italy game was earmarked as final preparation for the World Cup and so it was almost a case of getting a few boys some minutes before we get on the plane,” explained Whiffin.

Italy have proved stubborn opposition in recent years at U20 level and Whiffin is sure the visitors will provide his side with a stern test.

“They will be a very tough team, you only have to go back to the game in the Six Nations and how tough it was out there,” he said.

“We snuck over the line thanks to a last minute shot at goal by them. It was a tough battle, they have got a very strong pack, possess a strong kicking game and have some really quick outside backs so they will challenge us right across the field.”

With a World Cup spot on the line where Wales face Argentina, France and Spain, Whiffin is hoping the players will rise to the occasion against Italy.

“We want boys feeling that pressure as we know what it is going to be like out at the World Cup so there are shirts up for grabs, the boys know that and we’ll hopefully see the best out of them on the back of it.”

Wales U20 v Italy U20, Friday 13 June, Cardiff Arms Park, 4.30pm
15 Jack Woods (Bath Rugby)
14 Ioan Duggan (Dragons)
13 Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff Rugby)
12 Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby)
11 Aidan Boshoff (Bristol Bears)
10 Harri Ford (Dragons)
9 Logan Franklin (Dragons);
1 Ioan Emanuel (Bath Rugby)
2 Harry Thomas (Scarlets)
3 Sam Scott (Bristol Bears)
4 Dan Gemine (Ospreys)
5 Luke Evans (Exeter Chiefs)
6 Deian Gwynne (Gloucester)
7 Harry Beddall (Dragons – Capt)
8 Evan Minto (Dragons)

Replacements

16 Evan Wood (Pontypool/Cardiff Met)
17 Louie Trevett (Bristol Bears)
18 Jac Pritchard (Scarlets)
19 Tom Cottle (Cardiff Rugby)
20 Nick Thomas (Dragons)
21 Ryan Jones (Dragons)
22 Caio James (Gloucester)
23 Keanu Evans (Scarlets)
24 Sion Davies (Cardiff Rugby)
25 Harri Wilde (Cardiff Rugby)
26 Elis Price (Scarlets)
27 Lewis Edwards (Ospreys)
28 Sion Jones (Scarlets)
29 Carwyn Legatt-Jones (Scarlets)

Tickets available on the gate priced £5 adults with free entry for under 16s.