France U20 Look To Secure Semi-final Spot

France head into day three with a straightforward route to the semi-finals, avoid defeat against Wales at Athlone Sports Stadium (kick-off 16:30 local time) and their hunt for a third successive U20 Championship crown will continue.

Conversely, though, a bonus-point victory for the Welsh would ensure it is Mark Jones’ side that head into the knockout stages top of Pool A and leave the reigning champions sweating on a potential best runners-up spot.

Wales interim coach Jones has made five changes to his starting line-up as they chase a memorable win, and first against Les Bleuets since 2020. France won this year’s U20 Six Nations match between the sides 67-17 in Oyonnax.

“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."