Scotland under-20 head coach, Peter Wright, has today made three changes to the side which will start against Wales under-20 at Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay on Friday night (kick-off 7.35pm).

The former British Lion is keeping faith with the bulk of the side and providing a second chance to show what they can do on the international stage, despite suffering a heavy defeat to England last Friday at Firhill Stadium in Glasgow. (59-3).

He said: “We’re obviously disappointed after last weekend’s defeat to England, but we want to stay consistent. We don’t see fit to make whole sale changes.

“The players have had another week together in training and are continuing to gel well. We know the strengths they have and we want to give them another chance to show what they can do at this level.”

Robbie Fergusson will take up his position in the centre having recovered from a hip injury received last week in training. Michael Crawley moves back to his preferred position on the wing and Tom Steven drops to the bench.

In the forwards, George Turner replaces the injured Fergus Scott and Jamie Bhatti steps in for last weekend’s captain, Robin Hislop, who returns to his club, Edinburgh Rugby. Stand-off Harry Leonard will now wear the captain’s armband.

On the bench, hooker Russell Anderson, prop Gavin Robertson and scrum-half Matthew Torrance come in for their first chance to get a taste of under-20 international rugby.

Wright continued: “Wales are a very physical team and uncompromising up front. This is complemented by backs who know how to attack space. We have picked a team who will face that challenge head on, deny the backs space to run the ball and manipulate them to play our game plan.”

The Scotland under-20 team to play Wales under-20 on Friday 10 February at Parc Eirias is as follows:

15 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Scotland 7s / Heriot’s)

14 Jamie Farndale (Edinburgh Rugby / Edinburgh Accies)
13 Robbie Fergusson (Ayr)
12 Tommaso Allan (Western Province)
11 Michael Crawley (Boroughmuir)

10 Harry Leonard (Edinburgh Rugby) (captain)
9 Scott Steele (Leicester Tigers)

1 Jamie Bhatti (Stirling County)
2 George Turner (Edinburgh Rugby / Stewart’s Melville)
3 Alex Allan (Loughborough Students)
4 Adam Sinclair (Stirling County
5 Jonny Gray (Hamilton)
6 Mitch Eadie (Bristol Rugby)
7 Will Bordill (Sale Sharks)
8 Jamie Swanson (Boroughmuir)

16 Russell Anderson (Gala)
17 Gavin Robertson (Dundee HSFP)
18 Andrew Redmayne (Dundee HSFP)
19 Callum Reid (Edinburgh Accies)
20 Struan Cessford (Heriot’s)
21 Finn Russell (Falkirk)
22 Matthew Torrance (Ospreys)
23 Tom Steven (Glasgow Hawks)

Scotland under-20 RBS 6 Nations 2011/12 fixtures:

Friday 24 February 2012
Netherdale - Scotland under-20 v France under-20, 7.30pm

Friday 9 March 2012
Dubarry Park – Ireland under-20 v Scotland under-20, 7.05pm

Friday 16 March
Calvisano – Italy under-20 v Scotland under-20, 6pm

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Cameron MacAllister
Communications and Public Affairs Assistant - Scotland under-20
Tel: +44 (0)131 346 5008
Mob: +44 (0) 7764 178921
email: cameron.macallister@sru.org.uk

Nick Rougvie
Head of Media Operations & Public Relations
Mob: +44 (0)7814 615 604
Tel: +44 (0)131 346 5266
email: nick.rougvie@sru.org.uk
www.scottishrugby.org