Thanks for joining us, see you next time!

That’s all from us today, Scotland opening their U20 World Championship account with a tough loss to the reigning champions in testing conditions, to say the least.

Thank you for joining us today, and be sure to check back in with us on Friday 4 July, ahead of the 2:30pm kick off against Australia.

Post-match thoughts

A testing match in every way for the Scots today.

Keeping one of the world’s best U20 sides – reigning champions, no less – to no scores for 30-plus minutes in a scorching second half, was astounding. The defensive effort was top notch, with multiple try-saving tackles.

Captain Johnny Ventisei said as much in his post-match comments too. The first 15 minutes were brilliant, but his side couldn’t hold it, he reflects.

The Timmins red card had an impact too – but that was about 15 minutes into that second stanza, and Scotland were still creating chances when England were at the full complement.

Kenny Murray’s men will now look forward to next Friday’s match against Australia, who ended up losing that match against South Africa 73-17.

TRY SCOTLAND – Patterson

Under penalty advantage, Scotland nip through via Kerr Yule on halfway. He finds a great inside pass to Patterson, who bursts away and pops a chip and chase through on the 22, to open the scoring for Scotland in the second stanza.

The conversion was good too, from Urwin under the posts. (England 56 – 19 Scotland, 77 mins)

Scotland are just a try away from taking a bonus point from this match.

Final plays

With just two minutes remaining, Renshaw bursts through again, but between Patterson and Renshaw they hold him up.

The goal line drop out goes long and England return. Side to side they go, and Offiah is the last pair of hands as he dives for the line. But again, Scotland’s defence stands strong and he’s ushered into touch.

We go back for a penalty though, and England elect for a scrum. They lose the ball and the hooter sounds.

Scotland keep playing though, with a fourth try on offer, but they have the length of the field to go.

A speculative cross-field kick comes from Urwin, but Watson is unable to gather, and knocks on, bringing the game to a close.

TRY England – Renshaw

Ben Renshaw goes in for England’s second try of the half, after a kick was stabbed through on the halfway line and Renshaw regathered.

He boosted away and made a beeline for the corner, the Scots unable to lay a hand on the speedster.

Bellamy nailed the wide out conversion too. (England 56 – 12 Scotland, 75 mins)

TRY England – Bellamy

Scrum penalty this time goes the way of England.

It’s taken quickly by Bellamy, who taps and chips over the top of a knackered Scottish defensive line. The bounce doesn’t go the way of the covering defenders, and he regathers.

Bellamy side-steps a couple of Scots and dots down for the first points of the second half, in the 72nd minute. Bellamy converts his own try. (England 49 – 12 Scotland, 72 mins)

Packing down scrums

Another poor lineout throw unfortunately, but again England give up possession easily with another knock on in midfield.

I’ve lost count of the number of scrums these poor lads have set today in 30+ degree heat. Ten minutes remain.

Inching back up field

Penalty to Scotland in the scrum once again. The forwards have been immense in the scrum and lineout today.

Hocking has the honours this time to boot the ball out of the Scottish 22. The subsequent lineout is overthrown though and England counter.

They stab a kick through, gathered by Hocking, and Scotland win a penalty for hands in the ruck.

The clearing kick is good.

Scotland survive again

Again they come. With 14 players, England’s attacks are coming in waves.

Camped on the Scottish line, the defence has been nothing short of resolute. Again England cannot get the final pass there, as they knock on going wide left.

Scrum to Scotland and a chance to clear from the shadow of their goal posts.

Repelling wave after wave

Tuipulotu drags it off the back of the lineout drive and gets within a metre.

Bellamy goes to the sky again, looking for his scrum half, who ghosted out to the wing. But Hocking did enough to put him off. The ref brings it back for another penalty and England tap and go.

The first and second phases are repelled, and it looks to have been smuggled back, but the ref calls for a penalty for hands in the ruck.

Bellamy again goes to the corner.

Scotland ring in the subs

Scotland give away a scrum penalty there for repeated early engagements, and Coen kicks to inside the 22.

Under penalty advantage, England go to the sky with a cross-field kick and the initial defence is good, forcing a knock on. We will go back for the penalty though.

Fullback Bellamy kicks to the 5m line for yet another rumble towards the line.

Blyth-Lafferty is back on for Stewart, Fyffe is on for Moss, and Patterson is on for Cowan.

Scary times in defence

A scrambled clearance from Cowan was charged down and now the English have the ball on the edge of the 22.

It’s smuggled back though through Cockburn, and Cowan has another chance to clear, doing so well this time. The throw is taken quickly and England go side to side on halfway, only to drop it – giving Scotland a scrum near the 40m line.

Water break resumption

We’re 20 minutes into the second half now and the scoreline hasn’t changed. That’s a credit to Scotland’s dogged defence here.

Water break

Scotland defend the scrum set piece well after an initial incursion into the 22. Offiah made the break but it was knocked on in contact.

We’ll have that second water break now.

RED CARD England – Timmins

England’s George Timmins has been sent off for an elbow directly to Oli Blyth-Lafferty in an off the ball incident. He took exception to the clear out.

Good catch from the TMO there as play had well and truly moved on.

Scrambling defence

The lineout is good for England but it’s loose in the ruck and it’s fumbled back to Scotland, who try to run it out from their own line.

Loose passes though seem to heap the pressure back on the visitors, and Cowan clears to the 40m line.

The ref has been called over to the TMO for a review on an off the ball incident.

Dylan Cockburn is on for Dan Halkon. It’s the first time Halkon has come off since his debut. About 400 consecutive minutes for Scotland U20. Jamie Stewart is on for Oli Blyth-Lafferty.

A wee Scottish chance snuffed out

Ten minutes into the second half, and the pace change is marked. The score was 12-14 by this stage in the first half.

Moncrieff makes some good metres down the right wing, but after some good old fashioned forceback, England win the mini game and have a lineout around the Scottish 22 line.

Trading penalties

A succession of penalties sees Scotland exit their half and maintain possession – three in a row to be precise.

After it’s kicked to the English 22 line, Seb Stephen replaces Joe Roberts with about 30 minutes to play.

England win a penalty of their own, but they can’t find touch – giving Scotland a scrum back around the halfway line.

Quick English play and a Scottish sub

England dart through from the lineout through Williams. Wyman makes it to 5m out from the Scottish line and the ref calls play back for a penalty.

It’s taken quickly, but the defensive line holds and Scotland win a scrum for holding the ruck up.

Oli McKenna has come on for Shearer now.

First phases for England

Early shove from the Scots, and Coen puts up an old fashioned midfield bomb, and it’s dropped by Scotland.

The visitors recover it inside their 22 though, and are able to clear through Cowan into touch.

In other news, Jack Hocking has come on for Brown at half time. It’s his first competitive appearance for 267 days due to injury.

We’re back underway

Urwin kicks us back underway here. Challenged by the Scottish forwards, but knocked on for an England scrum.

Elsewhere…

In the other match from this pool, South Africa are leading Australia 33-5.

This is a tremendously tough pool for Scotland, who play Australia on Friday 4 July, before South Africa in the final pool match.

First half analysis

Scotland flew out of the gates there, scoring the opening try.

Cowan dotted down from a clever cross-field kick to Watson. But just two minutes later, Watson was sin-binned for a no-arms tackle saving a certain try. That led to a penalty try and England taking the lead.

Scotland benefitted from a yellow card and penalty try of their own two minutes later, with Gulley being sent from the field – Scotland re-took the lead.

But England fought back, scoring (and converting) five unanswered tries before the break, earning them a 42-12 scoreline at the break.

The heat is clearly playing a big part in this match, and England are dealing with it much better so far.

Positives for Scotland have been both wingers, Urwin’s kicking, and Cowan’s clever interventions – plus Finlayson-Russell has made his U20 Scotland debut today.

Scotland have it all to do in the second stanza.

Final throes of the first half

Both sides look absolutely shattered. The heat is hard to describe without actually being there on the ground.

The final play sees England with the scrum, but the pass goes to ground and is knocked on. The referee blows for a much-needed break.

TRY England – Bracken

It’s another try for Bracken – he has his double.

The English won the turnover after a crunching tackle in the midfield, and a quick counter through the hands of flanker Sam Williams, then to Knight, and on to Offiah broke the line and saw them inside the 22.

Offiah slid a slick pass on to Bracken, who dotted down under the posts. Coen converted. (England 42 – 12 Scotland, 38 mins)

Finlayson-Russell on for debut

Brown is down receiving treatment here after the restart. He’s okay to continue.

Oliver Finlayson-Russell has come on for Oliver Duncan, so that’s his debut – a big moment for him in this 30+ degree heat.

TRY England – Knight

England win the kick game from the restart, with Cowan knocking it out between the 22 and 50m lines.

More flat passes from England right on the gainline and Bart Godsell gives a penalty away on the edge of the 22.

Coen again kicks to the corner, and the lineout is pushed back. But it makes no difference – England go in for their fifth try, this time it’s Will Knight, the centre. He goes in under the posts, and Coen nails the conversion. (England 35 – 12 Scotland, 33 mins)

TRY England – James

A dummy run from the English-won lineout sees England exit the 22.

They cross the halfway line just a phase later, and James scythes through once again. Simple flat pass undid Scotland there, and James finished well, under pressure from Watson, in the corner.

Coen’s conversion from the touchline is a great one. (England 28 – 12 Scotland, 29 mins)

Scotland chances

Fullback Jack Brown makes some metres, stepping inside three defenders, before Watson does the same in midfield.

Scotland win a midfield penalty and kick to the 22 as has become customary thus far.

The set piece is good for the visitors, and Brown knocks a grubber through – tumbling out about 10m out from the English line.

Both sides battling the heat

Scotland scythe through English defensive lines during a kick return through Jonny Ventisei and Watson, but they’re penalised for a side entry inside the English 22, giving the home side a chance to clear their lines.

England’s James makes a dash from the pick and go, entering Scottish territory, but the pass is knocked on, and Scotland can reset.

TRY England – Kane James

Tuipulotu, the man who scored a hat trick in the U20 Six Nations earlier in the year, is on the field as hooker cover during the yellow card.

The lineout is won and the rumble gets going. Kane James grabs the ball on the second phase, just a metre out, and he sneaks down the blindside to record the fifth try of this match.

Coen nails the conversion too, and England stretch the lead to seven. (England 19 – 12 Scotland, 25 mins)

Break over

The break is over and we return with a penalty from the scrum on halfway for England.

They kick towards the 22 and can set up an attack.

It’s won by the men in white and it’s flung wide to the backs. They are making metres at will here, as Scotland defend desperately.

Inside the 5m line now, they fling it wide but it goes to ground. The referee brings it back for a penalty for a side entry at the ruck from Scotland. Coen kicks to the corner for a rumble.

Water break

A breakneck pace we’ve seen in this opening stanza.

While the players take a well deserved water break, we can catch our breath back home.

We’ve seen two penalty tries, two yellow cards, and a total of four tries for a scoreline of 12-all at the moment.

A great kick off to this U20 competition.

TRY England – Bracken

Both sides are seemingly scoring at will for the time being, here.

A great crosskick from Coen to Offiah near the Scottish 22 sees the winger brought down, but the offload off the deck to Jack Bracken is superb, and the opposite winger is the scorer this time – darting down the left hand touchline to go in untouched.

The conversion attempt is a good one too – and England tie the score. (England 12 – 12 Scotland, 17 mins)

PENALTY TRY Scotland! And a yellow card for England

Another big restart, this time for Scotland, who win a penalty at the breakdown.

They kick to the corner again, and the lineout drive is immense.

Inch by inch, Scotland gain momentum. English players all over the show here, and just as Scotland were looking to dive over, the referee gives another penalty try! This time for Scotland!

It’s also a yellow card for England, so both sides are down to 14 players. (England 7 – 12 Scotland, 14 mins)

TRY England – Huge Scottish defence saves certain try, but penalty try given

England strike straight back.

Fergus Watson made a try saving tackle, keeping Offiah out from a certain try in the corner.

However, the referee has been called over for a TMO check.

Watson didn’t use his arms in the tackle, and the decision is a yellow card for Watson, and a penalty try for England. Shame that, after a fantastic Scottish start.

(England 7 – 5 Scotland, 13 mins)

TRY SCOTLAND – Noah Cowan

First attacking penalty goes to Scotland from the scrum. The front row collapsed, pretty simple one for the referee to spot.

Matthew Urwin knocks it towards the corner and Scotland have a golden chance here for the first points of the match.

The lineout is won and the drive ensues. Cross kick into the hands of Ferg Watson – it’s pinpoint from Urwin. Watson is brought down a metre out, but he finds the hands of Cowan – who goes in for the FIRST TRY OF THE MATCH!

The conversion is from the 22 touchline, and is missed from Urwin. (England 0 – 5 Scotland, 8 mins)

Scotland with the first attacking phases

Winning the scrum, Scotland also win a penalty advantage early.

They scythe away down field through a strong carry from Nairn Moncrieff.

Phases are building slowly here, and Scotland are looking composed.

Knock on, Scotland scrum on the 22

A box kick from Cowan sees English wing Tyler Offiah under immense pressure – and he knocks on just outside the English 22.

Big chance here for a super Scottish start.

Lineout not straight – Scotland scrum

A quick throw by the English to start, but it’s not straight and Scotland opt for the scrum. A chance to set up some plays off the back here.

We’re underway!

Marcus Playle whistles away, and the match is started by England stand off Ben Coen.

Scotland are attacking right to left as we see it on telly.

The kick off is brought down by Kerr Yule inside the 22. A smart clearance from Noah Cowan at scrum half, and it’s a good one – up to the 40m line.

Anthems belted out – we’re moments away

Passion on both sides, as you’d expect with the first match of a tournament.

Here come the teams!

Both sides are striding out of the tunnel now.

A reminder, you can watch the live coverage on Rugby Pass TV for free.

We’re about to get underway, but first – the anthems.

Weather update…

We’ve just had a graphic flash up on screen – we are working with 33 degrees Celsius. Absolutely zero chance of rain too.

We’re to have regular water breaks too, thanfully.

We’re just 15 minutes away from kick off!

Here’s how things were looking during Scotland’s arrival and team talk today:

How Scotland are shaping up

With temperatures currently over 30 degrees at the team’s base in Mirano and expected to stay that way throughout the championship, the squad visited the environmental chamber at the University of West of Scotland during preparations.

In smaller groups, the squad were put through their paces on watt bikes in the heated chamber in order to prepare them mentally and physically for playing in the soaring Italian temperatures.

The side also took on Ireland U20 on Friday 13 June, in Scotland’s only warm-up fixture for the tournament. A scintillating second-half attacking performance including six tries saw Scotland win 48-29 over their Irish counterparts.

Full-back Jack Brown grabbed himself a hat-trick, while back-row Reuben Logan scored two tries of his own, his first in Scotland colours.

You can read our full match report from the game HERE.

Today’s match officials

We have a New Zealander leading the officials today – Marcus Playle, from Auckland. Here is the team in the middle:

Referee: Marcus Playle
Assistant Referee 1: Tomas Bertazza
Assistant Referee 2: Alex Frasson
TV Match Official: Leo Colgan

Squad news from the week

It’s been a week of ups and downs for the Scotland squad as they shot over to Italy.

Johnny Ventisei will captain the side today. His fellow co-captain for the championship, Freddy Douglas, misses out as he recovers from a concussion sustained in training.

University of St Andrews student Oliver Finlayson-Russell could make his Scotland U20 debut if called upon from the bench.

Jack Hocking could make his first competitive appearance for 267 days due to injury after being selected on the bench.

And your Scotland squad!!

Here’s today’s England squad

England
15. Josh Bellamy
14. Jack Bracken
13. Nick Lilley
12. Will Knight
11. Tyler Offiah
10. Benjamin Coen
9. Jonny Weimann

1. Ralph McEachran
2. Louie Gulley
3. Tye Raymont
4. Tom Burrow (captain)
5. Junior Kpoku
6. George Timmins
7. Samuel Williams
8. Kane James

Replacements
16. Kepueli Tuipulotu
17. Oliver Scola
18. Vilikesa Sela
19. Olamide Sodeke
20. Aiden Ainsworth-Cave
21. Archie McParland
22. Campbell Ridl
23. Ben Redshaw

Hello and welcome!

Welcome, one and all, to today’s live match centre ahead of Scotland Under 20’s first match in this World Rugby U20 Championship, against England.

Today’s match – kicking off at 2:30pm – is being played in the 33 degree heat of northern Italy. Verona, to be precise.

We’ll soon bring you all the news from the past week, plus selection news, today’s match officials, and much more. Stick with us.