Backline weapon Darby Lancaster and influential flanker Ned Slack-Smith have strengthened the Junior Wallabies for the climax of their World Rugby Under-20 Championship campaign.
Both are back in the starting side for the play-off for fifth against Wales on Friday night (10pm AEST) in Cape Town.
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Both have ticked all the return-to-play protocols after concussions earlier in the tournament.
In other significant changes, playmaker Jack Bowen is back at flyhalf after his late withdrawal with a calf injury against New Zealand last weekend.
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips switches from No.10 to fullback after his excellent game as Bowen’s late replacement in the 44-35 victory over the Kiwis.
Canberra’s Liam Bowron gets the start at hooker with the unlucky Max Craig (concussion) having to make way after his two-try day out against NZ.
The centres have that nice balance of footwork, power, elusiveness and ball-handling with David Vaihu promoted to inside centre to partner tournament standout Henry O’Donnell.
Junior Wallabies coach Nathan Grey said that playing Ireland and England in the pool stages had given the side an insight into what to expect from the Welsh.
“It’s an ideal preparation having played two northern hemisphere sides already and knowing the Welsh play a similar style,” Grey said.
“We’ve played in wet and heavy conditions, it was an open game against NZ and now the forecast is for a dry, fast track for this game against Wales.
“We've built confidence in our strong set piece, maul defence and lineout knowing we can play in all conditions.
“Darby has experience from the sevens circuit. He’s fast and positionally very good. Ned is a very mobile openside, good on the ball and capable of creative opportunities with his tackling.”
Grey said there was no job-done feeling within the squad after the upbeat win over close rivals NZ.
“To be honest, the players made it very clear in the change room straight after the game that they still have more to achieve in South Africa. The focus is to finish on a high against Wales,” Grey said.
Junior Wallabies skipper Teddy Wilson also stressed that was the case.
“Once we missed out on making the semi-finals, the goal shifted to a clear plan to take that fifth-placed finish,” Wilson said.
“To beat NZ twice in a season is a feat that the boys are very proud of but this match against Wales is what it’s all about.
“Within the squad, we’ve taken our professionalism to the next level with the five-day-turnarounds between games, getting prepared properly and experiencing different styles of footy.
“Our set piece has been great. Credit to the ‘piggies’ there for giving us the platform to score some really good tries.”
Wilson said with a grin that the backs had new respect for the forwards after a fun role reversal challenge at training this week.
"The backs were running lineouts and the forwards were playing as backs calling moves," he said.
"Harry was throwing the ball into the lineout, Mason Gordon was jumping, I was a lifter. Forwards trying to run backline moves...there was a bit of chaos to have a bit of fun."
As halfback, Wilson said it was his job to make sure the team got the best from the creativity of both Bowen and McLaughlin-Phillips.
“Harry went great and really stepped up against NZ. ‘Bowey’ and I have worked together for a while now so it’s a strength to have both of them playing well,” Wilson said.
Grey said the Under-20s championship has been giving the class of 2023 a highly beneficial grounding.
"A handful in the squad have already played Super Rugby Pacific but this has been the chance to play with their peers and be the big dogs," Grey said.
"This has been a valuable showcase of what tournament footy is all about and what regular week-to-week rugby is like. It's been a really good grounding."
France and Ireland meet in the final.
