Wales host Italy in final audition for U20 tournament

WALES Under-20s coach Richard Whiffin has made wholesale changes for their final World U20s Championship warm-up match against Italy at the Cardiff Arms Park today (4.30pm kick-off).

- By JACK MCDONAGH

Dragons trio Harri Ford, Ioan Duggan and Evan Minto are the only survivors from last week’s starting XV against England, as Whiffin gives a number of players the chance to stake a claim as he prepares to name his squad for the upcoming tournament in Italy.

Having delayed his squad selection until after the Italy match, Whiffin has switched up a number of positions for the visit of the Italians to the Welsh capital.

Six Nations captain Harry Beddall returns to the openside, joining up with new Dragons team-mate Minto in the back-row.

Brothers Ioan and Steffan Emmanuel will be able to start together again, after Steffan was on the bench and Ioan left out of the squad that faced England.

The ex-Millfield scholars both impressed playing alongside each other earlier in the season, in the successful U20's Six Nations campaign.

Fly-half Ford retains the 10 jersey from the England game, with both Harri Wilde and Carwyn Leggatt-Jones on the bench.