McConnell named U20 co-captain as four selected to face Wales

Try-scorers against England U20 last weekend, flankers McConnell and Rudi Brown are once again paired in the back-row as winger Ben Evans gets his first start of the Championship.

Elsewhere tighthead prop Robbie Deans is named among the replacements and could make his Scotland U20 if called upon.

Scotland U20 Head Coach Kenny Murray said: “I was impressed by the performance the players gave in the second half last week, but we still have a lot to improve on if we want a good result out of this weekend.

“Wales are also coming off the back of loss, meaning that both teams will want to give everything they’ve got to walk away with a win.

“This week it’s all about being in it for the full 80 minutes and cutting out those errors that cost us against England.”

Most of the changes come for the forward pack including Craig Davidson (Watsonian FC), who will make his Scotland U20 debut at loosehead prop in place of Max Surry (Cardiff Met University) who is unavailable due to injury.

Davidson will be joined by powerhouse pairing Corey Tait (Boroughmuir Bears) at hooker and Callum Norrie (Stirling Wolves and Glasgow Warriors) at tighthead to complete the front row.

Jake Parkinson (Ealing Trailfinders and Brunel University) makes a return to the second row, this time joined by Ruaraidh Hart (Glasgow Hawks) who earns a starting postion this week after his impressive shift off the bench at The Stoop.

Hart replaces Harris McLeod (Stirling Wolves and Glasgow Warriors) whose injury from last week’s game makes him unavailable to play at Scotstoun.

The back-row remains mostly unchanged apart from Sam Derrick (Southern Knights) who will make his first Scotland U20 start at Number 8.

He will play alongside co-captain McConnell (Boroughmuir Bears and Edinburgh Rugby) at blindside flanker and one of last week’s try-scorers Brown (Southern Knights and Edinburgh Rugby) on the openside.

The dynamic duo of Ben Afshar (Ayrshire Bulls and Glasgow Warriors) and Richie Simpson (Ayrshire Bulls) return to scrum-half and stand-off respectively.

Co-captain Duncan Munn (Boroughmuir Bears and Glasgow Warriors) and Kerr Yule (Glasgow Hawks) will again take charge of the centre positions.

Evans (Heriot’s Rugby/Edinburgh Rugby) will begin his 2023 Under-20 Six Nations campaign this weekend as he starts on the wing alongside Will Robinson (Caldy RFC) who returns on the other side.

Dan King (Heriot’s Rugby) will make his second appearance of the campaign at full-back, completing the starting team.

Scotland U20 team to face Wales on Friday 10 February at Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow (kick-off 7.15pm – live on BBC iPlayer) 

15. Dan King** (Heriot’s Rugby)

14. William Robinson (Caldy RFC)
13. Duncan Munn* (Boroughmuir Bears/Glasgow Warriors) (CC)
12. Kerr Yule** (Glasgow Hawks)
11. Ben Evans* (Heriot’s Rugby/Edinburgh Rugby)

10. Richie Simpson (Ayrshire Bulls)
9. Ben Afshar* (Ayrshire Bulls/Glasgow Warriors)

1. Craig Davidson (Watsonian FC)
2. Corey Tait** (Boroughmuir Bears)
3. Callum Norrie* (Stirling Wolves/Glasgow Warriors)
4. Jake Parkinson (Ealing Trailfinders/Brunel University)
5. Ruaraidh Hart** (Glasgow Hawks)
6. Liam McConnell* (Boroughmuir Bears/Edinburgh Rugby) (CC)
7. Rudi Brown* (Southern Knights/Edinburgh Rugby)
8. Sam Derrick** (Southern Knights)

Replacements 

16. Jerry Blyth-Lafferty** (Boroughmuir Bears)
17. Robbie Deans* (Watsonian FC/Edinburgh Rugby)
18. Moby Ogunlaja (Glasgow Hawks)
19. Eddie Erskine (Bath Rugby)
20. Johnny Rutherford** (Currie Chieftains)
21. Finlay Burgess* (Stirling Wolves/Glasgow Warriors)
22. Geordie Gwynn (Ealing Trailfinders/Brunel University)
23. Logan Jarvie* (Stirling Wolves/Glasgow Warriors)

*FOSROC Scottish Rugby Contracted Academy Player
**FOSROC Scottish Rugby Regional Academy Player