Five Dragons set for Scottish U20s clash

08/02/2023

Wales head coach Byron Hayward has named his squad to face Scotland at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday in the second round of the U20 Six Nations. (kick-off 7.15pm, S4C) - and he names five Dragons in his starting line-up.

Captain Ryan Woodman switches from the back row to the second row with Jonny Green unavailable.

Cardiff’s Mackenzie Martin gets a first start of the campaign at blindside flanker after impressing as a substitute against Ireland with Ospreys’ Morgan Morse replacing Luca Giannini on the openside.

Ospreys’ Ellis Fackrell starts at tighthead prop with Tom Pritchard dropping to the bench while the only change in the back-line sees Dragons winger Oli Andrew come in for Harri Houston.

Wales lost 44-27 to Ireland in Colwyn Bay last Friday in their opening encounter of the campaign but Hayward was encouraged by what he saw form his young side.

There were lots of positives to take out of the game, there’s no doubt about that,” he said. “I think we showed how much potential this side has, particularly in the first half.

The boys are disappointed because it is a game we could have won, I’m not saying we should have, but we could have.

“We probably should have had more points with the entries we had in their 22 in the first half and that is something we have been working on. It has been a big priority for us that when we work hard to get close to the try-line we make sure we tighten our game up.”

Scotland lost 41-36 in a high scoring clash against England in round one which indicates Friday’s match could see plenty of free flowing rugby.

“Scotland are obviously a very good side. We are under no illusions; it is going to be a very difficult challenge. There has been talk that they have not won a game for some time and that is going to have to change at some point, I just hope it isn’t against us,” said Hayward.

“They played with a lot of width [against England] and that is something we have got to fix in our defence because we were narrow at times last week and Scotland would have seen that. We simply can’t give them too many chances to play around us.

“Playing at home in front of 2,500 Welsh people gives you a big lift – it will be the other way round this week. Some of our boys experienced Test match level for the first time last week so this Friday is now a different kind of challenge for them.”

Wales U20 v Scotland:

15 Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby)

14 Llien Morgan (Ospreys)

13 Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby)

12 Harri Ackerman (Dragons)

11 Oli Andrew (Dragons)

10 Dan Edwards (Ospreys)

09 Archie Hughes (Scarlets)

1 Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (Dragons)

2 Sam Scarfe (Dragons)

3 Ellis Fackrell (Ospreys)

4 Liam Edwards (Ospreys)