Scotland U20s vs Wales U20s

Friday 13th February
Netherdale
kick-off 5.55pm


Wales Team

15. Dafydd Howells (Ospreys)
14. Joshua Adams (Scarlets)
13. Owen Watkin (Ospreys)
12. Garyn Smith (Blues)
11. Barney Nightingale (Dragons)
10. Dan Jones (Scarlets)
9. Tom Williams (Blues)
1. Luke Garrett (Dragons)
2. Liam Belcher (Blues)
3. Dillon Lewis (Blues)
4. Joe Davies (Dragons)
5. Adam Beard (Ospreys)
6. Tom Phillips (Scarlets)
7. Ollie Griffiths (Dragons)
8. Harrison Keddie (Dragons).

Replacements

16. Torin Myhill (Scarlets)
17. Keagan Bale (Dragons)
18. Leon Brown (Dragons)
19. Rory Bartle (Gloucester)
20. Jordan Viggers (Blues)
21. Kieran Hardy (Scarlets)
22. James Whittingham (Blues)
23. Rhys Williams (Leicester Tigers)

Scotland Team

15. Ruairi Howarth (Edinburgh Rugby/Gala)
14. Ruaraidh Smith (Currie)
13. Archie Russell (Stirling County)
12. Patrick Kelly (Le Parc)
11. Alec Coombes (London Scottish)
10. Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints)
9. George Horne (Glasgow Hawks)
1. Murray McCallum (Aberdeen Grammar Rugby)*
2. Ross Graham (Hawick)
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors/Glasgow Hawks)
4. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/Glasgow Hawks)
5. Lewis Carmichael (Melrose)*
6. Neil Irvine-Hess (Melrose)
7. Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby)
8. Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby/Boroughmuir)

Replacements

16. Jake Kerr (Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonians)
17. Dan Elkington (Watsonians)
18. Jack Owlett (Exeter University)
19. Andrew Davidson (Glasgow Warriors/Glasgow Hawks)
20. Ally Miller (Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonians)
21. Andrew Manson (Stewart's Melville FP)
22. Tom Galbraith (Melrose)
23. Ben Robbins (Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonians)

Wales have made two changes to the under-20 team that beat England 21-15 for the match against Scotland in Galashiels on Friday (17:55 GMT).
Ospreys and Bridgend centre Owen Watkin joins Garyn Smith in the midfield, with Barney Nightingale moving to the left wing.
Rory Thornton has been released to play for the Ospreys against Edinburgh with Adam Beard taking his place.
Newport's Ollie Griffiths takes over the captain's armband from Thornton.
Griffiths said it was a "massive honour" to captain a side not only targeting the Six Nations Championship but also preparing for the World Rugby Under 20 Championship in Italy in June.
"After beating the double World champions it definitely gives us that extra boost in confidence," Griffiths said.
"We need to take every games at it comes and there's another massive challenge no going up to Scotland on Friday.
"As big a tournament the Six Nations is, it's a building block towards the Rugby World Cup at the end of the year."

Despite a heavy defeat to Ireland last time out, Scotland make just two changes to the starting XV, brining in former Oakham School captain Ruaraidh Smith onto the wing for Harvery Elms, and Neil Irvine-Hess from the bench to the back row in place of the injured Lewis Wynne.

Andrew Davidson comes onto the bench for Irvine-Hess, with Ben Robbins also coming onto the bench, as does the former Millfield prop, Jack Owlett.

Owlett will be playing alongside his former Millfield teammate Alec Coombes, who retains his place in the team and will be Smith’s wing partner. Northampton Saints’ Rory Hutchinson starts again at outside half.

Speaking on the changes to the squad, Head Coach Sean Lineen said:

"We've made a few changes, both tactical and due to injuries.

"Some boys have been given a chance to show what they can do at this level, and we hope that they seize their opportunity.

"It's unfortunate that Lewis [Wynne] and Gary [Robertson] are unavailable for selection, but we know that we have the quality and depth in our ranks to replace them, and the value they hold in the squad.”

"It's all part of a learning curve for the players, and there were a lot of lessons learned from our first game of the Championship last week. Now it's about how we take that experience on board and use it to aid our development as a team.

"We are aware of the strength and threat Wales possess, especially after their good victory over England in their opening match, but we have the talent to really compete.

"It's also our first home game which will serve as a real boost to the players. You can never underestimate what a home tie can do for a team, especially when the atmosphere is in their favour, so we're really looking to get a great crowd down at Netherdale to get behind the stars of the future.”

LIVE on BBC ALBA and S4C

Now we get to see if this lot are actually consistent. If I'm lead to believe they're any good then they should thrash the Scots.

Lovely try then by Wales. Indiscipline keeping Scotland in the game, scoreline wise, but very early days yet.

Wayne I've seen our dragons No.7 this week and last, he's played very well. Given your team loves dragons flankers I'm willing to swap you him for one of your U20 locks .

Griff I think half of those penalties have been ridiculously harsh, such as this recent one. The guy is 6'7, give him a break!

Scotland need to remember how to tackle. They are really standing off the welsh, who are consequently looking dangerous every time they get the ball.

How are the Scots in this game?

How are the Scots in this game?

Well done Scotland. Still in the game at half time and a try on the board. If they can tighten up the defence they may be competitive in the second half. The backs have looked ok, George Horne has a good pass and looks like a decent SH. Some of the pro players in the pack are doing well but collectively we are still giving a lot away to Wales. It is a step up from previous years though for sure.

That was Scotland's best passage of play in the match so far. Showing a lot more continuity this half so far.

glamorganalun wrote:How are the Scots in this game?

End of that first half and so far this half we just havent been good, Scotland have upped their tempo. I also think the ref is giving them handouts...but he's still a massive step up from pro12 refs.

Hang on, Scotland score again and are in the lead, that was not in the script! They deserve it as well, they have been much more positive this half, Welsh look a little rattled!

I'm just amazed at how big these teenagers are - they're kids FFS!

Game on!

For Scotland, Ruairi Howarth, Russell and Horne Jr doing well in the backs, and some nice hitting up from the props. Well taken try from Lewis Carmichael. Also Murray McCallum is a fiery wee bugger.

For Wales, the centre Garyn Smith has been pretty lively, and Tom Phillips is doing very well.

Scotland have improved massively in the second half. In previous years we would have really faded away at this point. Great credit to the players and the coaches for that.

The Scotland reserve 2nd row is a big lad!

IanBru wrote:For Scotland, Ruairi Howarth, Russell and Horne Jr doing well in the backs, and some nice hitting up from the props. Well taken try from Lewis Carmichael. Also Murray McCallum is a fiery wee bugger.

For Wales, the centre Garyn Smith has been pretty lively, and Tom Phillips is doing very well.

Tom is a good player and looks like a 6 we could do with in the future. However he's gone off injured so is no longer playing.

This is becoming a live game. I was not expecting that and judging on their performance, neither were the Welsh!

We're definitely struggling for physicality at the rucks

That's the 2nd pathetic high tackle call in this match.

The Saint wrote:

IanBru wrote:For Scotland, Ruairi Howarth, Russell and Horne Jr doing well in the backs, and some nice hitting up from the props. Well taken try from Lewis Carmichael. Also Murray McCallum is a fiery wee bugger.

For Wales, the centre Garyn Smith has been pretty lively, and Tom Phillips is doing very well.

Tom is a good player and looks like a 6 we could do with in the future. However he's gone off injured so is no longer playing.

Yeah I see that now. I thought he was great in the first half.

That one should have been yellow though. He really didn't need to do that.

We've had some gash U20s in the past and these guys are a step-up. But I've never seen an implosion like this, head scratch moment as Scotland deservedly extend their lead.

Got to be a try!

Hang on, this was not in the script!

This will be one of the best ever under 20s wins if we win this!

Our reserve 9 is certainly a step down.

Game on, 7 mins to go

Poor performance from Wales, they will be very lucky if they manage to steal this at the death.

Not the follow up to beating the World champions that we wanted.

Silly from our 9 - we had the penalty, didn't need the rucking

That was a bit harsh

Yes even the Welsh commentary team thought the same!

If we end up losing this he's going to be given a very hard time for that!

Jesus, some awful passing from Wales

The Saint wrote:Our reserve 9 is certainly a step down.

Not a reserve 9 actually. Just different looking hair, and much worse performance...

Howells drops the ball and Wales give a penalty away, that pretty much sums up the performance.

Oh dear,

There goes any chance of a grandslam, and probably any chance of winning the tournament.

YASSSS!!!

Well done Scotland - not quite sure how we can explain our implosion though, wonder what Taylor will do about that now.

Great start to the weekend, the driving maul was a thing of beauty.

What a win!!! Our under 20s never win!

Wow, what a great win for the Scotland boys and you know what, they really deserved it. They were a different side in the second half the defence was immense and they showed no little control of the game. This bodes really well for the future.

The Welsh looked like they thought they just needed to turn up!

It is actually so important to Scottish rugby that we do start to perform at this level. Quite a few players out there looked like they have what it takes to step up to Pro level, that is what Scottish rugby needs, a future conveyour belt of talent.

Lots of these guys are only at their first year at this level, that was such a promising performance. The first and second halves were like chalk and cheese!

Well done boys and well done to the coaching staff!

Definitely look like a step up from previous (Scot u20) teams. Seems like they have more players who have played at a higher level in this year's crop and that is usually the deciding factor at this level.

Didn't see second half, got it recording, but well done Scotland. Hopefully that's your only win of the weekend!

Smashing win, although it was only Wales

Great game. Well played by the scots. Wales lost momentum when Phillips left the fray.

Good performance by the scots pack, particularly in the scrum.