Wales have made four changes to the side that beat England at the death last time out in the U20 6 Nations as they prepare to take on Scotland on Friday evening.
The game kicks off at 7.30pm on Friday at Meggetland, with Head Coach Gareth Williams making three changes in the pack and one injury enforced change in the backline.
Up front Scarlets’ Jac Price returns after missing the games against Italy and England through suspension, he partners Cardiff Blues’ Teddy Williams. In the back row Llanelli’s Ellis Thomas comes in for a first start of the campaign, with Scarlets’ Jac Morgan and clubmate Iestyn Rees again at openside and number 8 respectively.
Ospreys’ Dewi Lake is captain again at hooker, with Scarlets’ Kemsley Mathias the third change in the pack, he comes in at loosehead, Cardiff Blues’ Ben Warren is again at tighthead.
The only change in the backline sees Gloucester’s Alex Morgan come in on the right wing for the injured Tomi Lewis. He links up with former Bristol man Ioan Davies, now at Cardiff Blues, at full back and Ospreys’ Dewi Cross on the left wing.
Ospreys’ Cai Evans is again at fly half with Dargons’ Dafydd Buckland at scrum half, his clubmate Anuerin Owen is at inside centre with Cardiff Blues’ Max Llewellyn again his centre partner.
The bench includes three Dragons, Will Griffiths, Tom Devine, and Ed Scragg, all covering the pack, with Ospreys pair Harri Morgan and Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler cover scrum half and the outside backs respectively, Cardiff Blues’ Ioan Rhys Davies covers the back row. There are also two Welsh Exiles on the replacements bench, Bristol Bears’ Nick English covering tighthead and Leicester Tigers and Oakham School’s Sam Costelow covering fly half and inside centre.
Speaking to www.wru.wales ahead of the game, Gareth Williams said: “There are a number of changes in the squad, and this is a reflection of the competition we have leading towards the World Cup.”
“We are very focussed on the challenge of Scotland. They are a good team who will be excited to be at home and they will pose a real threat to us. We’ve been keen to put England behind us despite being proud of the resolve we showed in gaining that result.”
Wales U20 v Scotland: Friday, 7.30pm, Meggetland
15 Ioan Davies (Cardiff Blues), 14 Alex Morgan (Gloucester), 13 Max Llewellyn (Cardiff Blues), 12 Aneurin Owen (Dragons), 11 Dewi Cross (Ospreys), 10 Cai Evans (Ospreys), 9 Dafydd Buckland (Dragons), 1 Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets), 2 Dewi Lake (Ospreys, captain), 3 Ben Warren (Cardiff Blues), 4 Teddy Williams (Cardiff Blues), 5 Jac Price (Scarlets), 6 Ellis Thomas (Llanelli), 7 Jac Morgan (Aberavon/Scarlets), 8 Iestyn Rees (Scarlets).
Replacements: 16 Will Griffiths (Dragons), 17 Tom Devine (Dragons), 18 Nick English (Bristol Bears), 19 Ed Scragg (Dragons), 20 Ioan Rhys Davies (Cardiff Blues), 21 Harri Morgan (Ospreys), 22 Sam Costelow (Leicester Tigers), 23 Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler (Ospreys).
Wales U20 6 Nations Fixtures:
Round 1: France 32-10 Wales
Round 2: Italy 12-42 Wales
Round 3: Wales 11-10 England
Round 4: Scotland – Friday 8th Mar, Galashiels, 7.30pm
Round 5: Ireland – Sunday 15th Mar, Stadiwm Zip World, 7.05pm
