Hogg sticks with winning formula for England U20 Test

13 Mar 2019

Head Coach Carl Hogg has made one change to the side that defeated Wales last weekend as Scotland travel to face England at Franklin’s Gardens in the final round of the U20 Six Nations this Friday night (15 March, kick-off 7.45pm) – live on Sky Sports Mix / Action.  

Edinburgh Accies’ Jack Mann replaces the injured Kwagga van Niekerk at number 8 to makes his second start of the Championship.

Mann’s promotion from the bench allows Sale Shark’s Teddy Leatherbarrow to take his place among the replacements, with Hogg naming an otherwise unchanged side to that which claimed a 27-20 victory over Wales – their first in this year’s tournament – at Meggetland five days ago.

That bonus-point win – which was their first victory over Wales in the U20 Six Nations since 2015 – lifted Scotland to fifth place in the standings.

The team now travel to Northampton looking to claim back-to-back wins over England following last year’s 24-17 triumph at Myreside.

Hogg, said: “Jack [Mann] comes in to that back-row. He’s a big strong physical ball carrier and adds some further balance to our pack.

“We were happy with the way in which we executed our game plan against Wales last weekend. I thought the boys’ attitude and approach to the match was excellent and we scored some really well-worked tries on the night.

“England have a tough, athletic pack and will want to finish their 2019 campaign on a high, but we’ve trained really well this week and the squad are looking forward to the challenge that awaits us at Franklin’s Gardens this Friday night.”

An unchanged back-three sees fullback Matt Davidson (London Scottish) make his third consecutive start of the Championship alongside Heriot’s wingers Jack Blain and Rory McMichael – both try scorers in last weekend’s win over Wales.

Wasps’ Cameron Anderson returns to the country in which he plays his domestic rugby and partners Robbie McCallum (CR Cisneros) in midfield.

Vice captain and stand-off Ross Thompson (Glasgow Hawks) once again links-up with Currie Chieftains’ scrum-half Roan Frostwick at half-back.

An unaltered front row start their third consecutive match together as Sale Sharks’ hooker Ewan Ashman packs down alongside loosehead prop Murphy Walker (Stirling County) and tighthead Euan McLaren (Ayr).

Racing 92 lock Ewan Johnson continues alongside Cameron Henderson (Stirling County) in the second-row, with the incoming Mann completing the back-row with last weekend’s man-of-the-match, Connor Boyle (Watsonians) and Charlie Jupp (Heriot’s).

Scotland U20 team to face England U20 at Franklin’s Gardens in the U20 Six Nations on Friday 15 March (kick-off 7.45pm) – live on Sky Sports Mix / Action.

15. Matt Davidson (London Scottish)

14. Rory McMichael (Heriot’s)*

13. Cameron Anderson (Wasps)

12. Robbie McCallum (Complutense Cisneros)

11. Jack Blain (Heriot’s)*

10. Ross Thompson (Glasgow Hawks)* VICE-CAPTAIN

9. Roan Frostwick (Currie Chieftains)*

1. Murphy Walker (Stirling County)*

2. Ewan Ashman (Sale Sharks)

3. Euan McLaren (Ayr)*

4. Ewan Johnson (Racing 92)

5. Cameron Henderson (Stirling County)*