Scotland have named their side to face Italy in their key final game of the 2018 U20 6 Nations as they aim to rise form the foot of the table.
Kicking off at 2pm GMT at the Stadio Della Vittoria, Head Coach Stevie Scott has made to changes to the side that lost narrowly to Ireland last week.
Logan Trotter comes in for former Wellington College star Rory McMichael on the wing, McMichael picked up an injury last time out. That leaves space for former Leicester Tigers wing Sam Yawayawa to start on the bench.
In the pack Paul Cairncross replaces Robbie Smith at hooker. Smith has captained the side throughout this campaign but an ankle injury rules him out of this one. That means that the captaincy passes over to inside centre Stafford McDowall, with second row Jamie Hodgson taking the vice-captaincy.
Once again there are plenty of Exiles in the squad, with Gloucester’s Charlie Chapman at scrum half and Northampton Saints’ Fraser Strachan, formerly of Bedford School, at outside centre.
Strachan is joined by two clubmates, with Stowe old boy Devante Onojaife at number 8 and St Joseph’s College’s Marshall Sykes on the bench.
Racing 92s Ewan Johnson is again in the second row, with Ealing’s Bradley Clements and Lions’ Nathan McBeth among the front row replacements.
Speaking ahead of the game, Stevie Scott said:
“Our attack against Ireland was the best it has been in the tournament so far. We created a lot of opportunities and thoroughly deserved the bonus point, but we are disappointed that we didn’t win the game, because we had a chance to do that.”
“This group has grown considerably from the start of this process. Where they are now, compared to when they first came into camp is a credit to them as a team. It would be a really good championship for us if we can win this game in Italy. It will be a challenge, but the squad have trained well this week and we’re really looking forward to the fixture.”
Scotland U20 v Italy U20 – Friday, 2pm (GMT), Stadio Della Vittora
Scotland U20
15 Paddy Dewhirst (Ayr), 14 Logan Trotter (Stirling County), 13 Fraser Strachan (Northampton Saints), 12 Stafford McDowall (Ayr, captain), 11 Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Hawks), 10 Ross Thompson (Glasgow Hawks), 9 Charlie Chapman (Gloucester), 1 Shaun Gunn (Edinburgh Accies), 2 Paul Cairncross (Glasgow Hawks), 3 Finlay Richardson (Edinburgh Accies), 4 Ewan Johnson (Racing 92), 5 Jamie Hodgson (Watsonians, vc), 6 Martin Hughes (Heriots), 7 Rory Darge (Melrose), 8 Devante Onojaife (Northampton Saints).
Replacements: 16 Bradley Clements (Ealing), 17 Nathan McBeth (Lions), 18 Murphy Walker (Strathallan School), 19 Marshall Sykes (St Joseph’s College/Northampton Saints), 20 Connor Boyle (Stewart’s Melville College), 21 Kaleem Barreto (Marr), 22 Mark New (Glasgow Hawks), 23 Sam Yawayawa (Glasgow Hawks).
