WALES Under-20s head coach Jason Strange is looking for his side to adopt an expansive approach on the plastic pitch at Donnybrook in their Six Nations opener against Ireland.

The Welsh youngsters start their campaign in Dublin on Friday night (kick-off 7.35pm) with Dragons number eight Harrison Keddie starting and lock Bryce Morgan and tighthead Leon Brown among the replacements.

Young backs Barney Nightingale and George Gasson miss out on this occasion with Strange opting for senior, more experienced players against tough opponents who they will meet in June’s World Rugby U20 Championship in Manchester.

Wales will be looking for in-form centre Owen Watkin to build on his strong display for the Ospreys against Glasgow in the Guinness Pro12 while they possess plenty of gas out wide in Elis-Wyn Benham and Keelan Giles and grunt up front, with the likes of tighthead Dillon Lewis, lock Adam Beard and captain and flanker Tom Phillips having played regional rugby this season.

Strange said: "The side is boosted by the regional experience of some of our key players, while the younger players joining the squad have benefitted from an international pathway.

“They have progressed from Wales Under 18 and the development tour to South Africa over the summer which gives the players a huge amount of confidence and bridges the gap between the two age group.

“We want to play a fast, attacking style of rugby that will pose questions of the opposition and the 3G pitch at Donnybrook will suit that approach.”

The Welsh youngsters have prepared for the encounter on the plastic pitch by training against Cardiff RFC at the Arms Park.

Wales Under 20 v Ireland: Rhun Williams (RGC); Elis-Wyn Benham (Cardiff Blues), Harri Millard (Cardiff Blues), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Keelan Giles (Ospreys); Dan Jones (Scarlets), Declan Smith (Scarlets); Corey Domachowski (Cardiff Blues), Dafydd Hughes (Scarlets), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Shane Lewis-Hughes (Cardiff Blues), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Tom Phillips (captain, Scarlets), Shaun Evans (Scarlets), Harrison Keddie (Newport Gwent Dragons)

Replacements: Ifan Phillips (Scarlets), Robert Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Leon Brown (Newport Gwent Dragons), Bryce Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Morgan Sieniawski (Cardiff Blues), Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys), Jarrod Evans (Cardiff Blues), Joe Thomas (Ospreys)