WALES Under-21 coach Chris Davey has urged his senior club counterparts to play his young Grand Slam heroes now.

Less than 24 hours before Wales plummeted to their first Six Nations whitewash, the under-21s were romping to the Grand Slam.

And they achieved the feat by winning on French soil, triumphing 21-16 at Nimes after trailing 16-9 30 minutes into the game.

Swansea's Gavin Henson scored all Wales' points from seven penalties, but he has been unable to command a regular place in the senior team.

There are others, Davey pointing to under-21 captain, prop Paul James of Neath, Swansea lock Jonathan Thomas, and back row pair James Malpas of Cardiff and Richard Pugh of Swansea among the forwards.

And in the backs he picks out Llanelli scrum half Mike Phillips, Cardiff outside half Nicky Robinson, Swansea's Henson and wings John Horton (Swansea) and Matthew Nuthall (Pontypridd).

"We've got to make sure they're playing, not sat on the bench," said Davey.

"I can understand that coach's jobs may be on the line and the pressure they are under, thinking perhaps an older, more experienced player could do a better job.

"But people should not be afraid of playing these boys. Give them the opportunity to play.

"They are hungry and they are used to winning. You have to perform, but it's difficult building a performance without getting results along the way."

Davey is understandably delighted with the Grand Slam. "We tried to say to the boys that it doesn't happen often at any level," he said.

"France is not an easy place to win, but it was a superb game and after being 16-9 down after half-an-hour we didn't allow France to score a point which says a lot for their confidence.

"The tournament has been pretty tough. Ireland beat England by a point, we beat Ireland by a point and England beat France by a point.

"So it's been very competitive and we got stronger as a team as it went on. We built towards it, we got together and we developed."