Scotland U20 team named for Azzuri clash

Scotland U20 Head Coach Kenny Murray has named his side to travel to Treviso, Italy to face their age-grade counterparts in the fourth round of the Under-20 Six Nations at Stadio Comunale di Mongio (Friday 11 March, kick-off 6pm GMT) – live on BBC iPlayer.

Murray has named a familiar looking Scotland U20 side with only three changes to the starting team who were defeated by France at home in round three of the tournament last month.

In the front row, GHA’s Gregor Hiddleston makes his first start for Scotland U20 at hooker, he will pack down with loosehead prop Mikey Jones (Heriot’s Rugby/Edinburgh Rugby) and tighthead prop Gregor Scougall (Currie Chieftains).

Try scorer from the last game against France, Josh Taylor (Ealing Trailfinders), will start his fourth consecutive game alongside Max Williamson (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors) at second-row.

In the back row team blindside flanker Matthew Deehan (Newcastle Falcons) retains his place from round three with captain Rhys Tait (Boroughmuir Bears/Glasgow Warriors) moving to Number 8 for the injured Ollie Leatherbarrow. Tim Brown (Glasgow Hawks) is promoted from the bench to start at openside flanker to complete the pack.

Starting their third consecutive match together
are the half-back pairing of Murray Redpath (Newcastle
University) at scrum-half and Christian Townsend (Ayrshire Bulls/Glasgow
Warriors) at stand-off.

Andy Stirrat (GHA) and Duncan Munn (Boroughmuir Bears/Glasgow Warriors) have formed a centre pairing that is working well, Stirrat will start at inside centre and Munn outside him for a third game in a row.

Ben Evans (Heriot’s Rugby/Edinburgh Rugby) starts on the wing with Ross McKnight (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors) lining up on the opposite wing, Montpellier’s Robin Mc Clintock Montpellier completes the starting team at full-back.

On the bench, Duncan Hood (Bath University), Ali Rogers (Glasgow Hawks) and Callum Norrie (Strathallan School) are the replacement front row.

Rudi Brown (Watsonians Rugby/Edinburgh Rugby) made an impact from the bench last time out whilst Innes Hill (Ealing Trailfinders) could make his international debut.

Thomas Glendenning (Glasgow Hawks) and Jed Gelderbloom (Edinburgh Rugby) can also be called upon to make an impact from the bench whilst Southern Knights back-three player Keiran Clark could make his Scotland U20 debut should he take to the field.

Head Coach Kenny Murray said: “Although the score line didn’t reflect it, there were some positives to take from the game against France.

“France were strong and powerful. We know Italy will bring more of the same, with added physicality, but we’ve already shown in the tournament that we can be strong, physical, and powerful too.

“We’ve selected a fairly settled side to face Italy. There are number of key partnerships within the team who have played several games together now and are beginning to gel, we’ll look for the whole squad to do the basics right to get the performance we want.”

Scotland U20 team to face Italy on Friday 11 March at Stadio
Comunale di Mongio (Friday 11 March, kick-off 6pm GMT) – live on BBC iPlayer.

15. Robin Mc Clintock (Montpellier) (3)

14. Ross McKnight* (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors) (6)

13. Duncan Munn** (Boroughmuir Bears/Glasgow Warriors) (3)

12. Andy Stirrat** (GHA) (2)

11. Ben Evans (Heriot’s Rugby/Edinburgh Rugby) (2)

10. Christian Townsend* (Ayrshire Bulls/Glasgow Warriors) (8)

9. Murray Redpath (Newcastle University) (7)

1. Michael Jones* (Heriot’s Rugby/Edinburgh Rugby) (8)

2. Gregor Hiddleston (GHA) (3)

3. Gregor Scougall** (Currie Chieftains) (3)

4. Josh Taylor (Ealing Trailfinders) (3)