OLLIE LEATHERBARROW returns at No 8 for Scotland Under-20s in a reshuffled back-row for Friday night’s clash against France at the DAM Health Stadium. Matthew Deehan switches to blindside flanker, while the injured Olujare Oguntibeju drops out of the match-day squad.
The rest of the team is unchanged from the side which started against Wales in the 26-13 defeat in Colwyn Bay a week past Friday. Leatherbarrow was unavailable for that match because he was released to be part of the Exeter Chiefs match-day squad (he was an unused replacement in a 24-15 Premiership win over Gloucester).
Meanwhile, Rudi Brown (Watsonians Rugby/Edinburgh Rugby) and Tim Brown (Glasgow Hawks) – who are not related – have been added to the Scotland bench covering the middle and back-rows of the scrum. Utility back Thomas Glendenning (Glasgow Hawks) returns to the squad after injury.
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“We’re still a bit frustrated from the last game against Wales,” said head coach Kenny Murray. “We were in the Welsh half a lot in that first half and had numerous opportunities to score, so we just need to execute our plays better in order for us to do that.
“The fact that we’ve only made one change to the team shows that there are positives to take from that game. We know that France will be a physical outfit, but we showed against England that we can match that, and some.
“As we’ve said previously the team didn’t perform for the full-80minutes. If we do that then we will get the result we have been after.”
Scotland U20s (v Wales at The DAM Health Stadium on Friday @ 8pm: Robin Mc Clintock (Montpellier); Ross McKnight (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Munn (Boroughmuir Bears), Andy Stirrat (GHA), Ollie Melville (Newcastle University); Christian Townsend (Ayrshire Bulls/Glasgow Warriors), Murray Redpath (Newcastle University); Michael Jones (Heriot’sRugby/Edinburgh Rugby), Patrick Harrison (Edinburgh Rugby), Gregor Scougall (Currie Chieftains), Josh Taylor (Ealing Trailfinders), Max Williamson (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors), Matthew Deehan (Newcastle Falcons), Rhys Tait (Boroughmuir Bears/Glasgow Warriors) CAPTAIN, Ollie Leatherbarrow (Exeter Chiefs) . Replacements: Gregor Hiddleston (GHA), Ali Rogers (Glasgow Hawks), Callum Norrie (Strathallan School), Rudi Brown (Watsonians Rugby/Edinburgh Rugby), Tim Brown (Glasgow Hawks), Jonty Cope (Durham University), Euan Cunningham (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors), Thomas Glendinning (Glasgow Hawks).
Are they scared to drop Townsend & Redpath in case they offend someone .
Other players in squad should now be given their chance to impress
Co up till now the aforementioned Have offered nothing so far in the 2 games I’ve watched.