The young Llanelli back, who has impressed in the Principality Premiership, replaces Afon Bagshaw for Byron Hayward’s men in one of six changes from the win over Ireland in Athlone.
Both Wales and France go into tomorrow’s game at Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay, with two wins from two in this year’s Six Nations but despite boasting a perfect record so far, Hayward has once again rotated his side with this summer’s Junior World Championship in New Zealand in mind.
It means Evans, who featured for the Wales Under 18 side last year, gets a start. Dafydd Howells and Harri Evans also return in the backs with captain Steffan Hughes switching to inside centre. Up front, Elliot Dee and Scott Matthews come in at hooker and openside flanker respectively with James Benjamin showing his versatility by starting at No 8.
“I’m very excited – I’ve been standing on the sidelines watching the boys play well and I’m very happy to come into a confident team after back-to-back wins,” said Evans.
“The boys have been working really hard. In Ireland we put everything into the game and got the result. To play against France is going to be a different challenge but one I’m really looking forward to.”
Saturday evening’s game in north Wales looks set to be the biggest of the campaign so far with one side’s 100 per cent record set to disappear. Evans refuses to be daunted by the pressure though, and is looking forward to taking on an impressive looking French side.
He added: “It’s great for me to come straight in to what could be the biggest game of the tournament. We’re a confident team and I’m happy to be going out and playing with them on Saturday night.
“Coming into this environment it’s very different. You have to work harder, train harder and I hope I can do well and add something to the team.
“The French pack is very big and they bring something different to the table really. They’re full of tricks – their scrum half is both left and right footed so we’ll have to be careful of that. Their nine and 10 are very sharp and their back rower who plays for Toulouse is a big lump and I can imagine he’ll be putting plenty of big hits in. Hopefully the boys can step up to that.
“I’ve played at Parc Eirias a couple of times. It’s a lovely pitch, a big playing area and hopefully the home crowd will get behind us.”
Wales No. 8 Benjamin added: “It’s the biggest match yet – France are two from two as well so it’s going to be a massive game for us.
“It will be a big physical challenge but we’re really excited about it. We want to keep producing good performances and we’re all driving each other on.”
Wales Under 20 team v France (Saturday 22 February, 6.05pm, Eirias, Colwyn Bay):
Steffan Evans (Scarlets); Ashton Hewitt (Dragons), Harri Evans (RGC), Steffan Hughes (capt, Scarlets), Dafydd Howells (Ospreys); Ethan Davies (Dragons), Connor Lloyd (Scarlets); Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Nicky Thomas (Ospreys), Scott Andrews (Dragons), James Sheekey (Blues), Will Boyde (Carmarthen), Scott Matthews (Dragons), James Benjamin (Dragons)
Replacements: Ethan Lewis (Blues), Luke Garrett (Dragons), Callum Lewis (Blues), Rory Thornton (Ospreys), Ben Roach (Blues) Luc Jones (Dragons), Luke Price (Ospreys), Tyler Morgan (Dragons)
Tickets are available for the remaining Wales Under 20 home games – against France on Saturday 22 February (6.05pm) and Scotland on Friday 14 March (7pm). They are on sale now at Colwyn Leisure Centre and Venue Cymru (online at www.venuecymru.co.uk / tel 01492 872000/ The Promenade, Llandudno) and wru.co.uk/tickets from £5 Under 16s and from £10 for adults.
