Dragons assistant Coach and Wales Under 20 head coach Darren Edwards has selected a starting line-up featuring seven changes to the side that lost 20-26 to England on Saturday for their trip to Stirling to face Scotland on Friday (7.30pm). Dragons scrum half Jonathan Evans will start the match
Wing Harry Robinson (ankle and wrist) and hooker Kirby Myhill (dead leg) have been ruled out and are replaced by Llandovery pair Adam Warren, who will win his first Wales Under 20 cap, and Sam Parry, while Steve Shingler replaces USA Sevens-bound Matthew Morgan at outside half. Elsewhere, Owen Williams starts ahead of Jack Gadd in the centre and up front, Blues trio Will Griff John, Cory Hill and Luke Hamilton replace Will Taylor, Matthew Screech and Calum Thomas respectively.
Ieuan Davies, Owen Sheppeard and Joseff Griffin come in on the bench, while Aled Davies (knee operation), Lewis Smout (knee ligament), Rheon James (tonisilitis) were also unavailable.
Edwards said: "We are happy with the all-round performance of the team on Saturday but we want to make the squad as competitive as possible and the only way of doing that is to expose players to international rugby. By the time we get to our next home game, against Ireland at Parc y Scarlets on March 11, all our players will have gained a good amount of game time and we should know our best side.
"What was pleasing about the performance against England was our physicality which didn't drop off right up until the final whistle. That was particularly encouraging because England always present a physical challenge.
"We said that the England game would give us a benchmark, and the second half of the game did that, but our challenge now against Scotland is to come out and play like that from the start. If we play like that, I'm sure our results will look after themselves."
There is free entry to Bridgehaugh Park, Stirling for Friday’s game.
Wales U20 team v Scotland (Friday 11 February, 7.30pm, Stirling)
Liam Williams (Llanelli); Adam Warren (Llandovery), Ben John (Ospreys / Aberavon), Owen Williams (Blues / Cardiff), Eli Walker (Ospreys / Swansea); Steven Shingler (Scarlets / Llanelli), Jonathan Evans (Dragons);
Rhodri Jones (Scarlets / Llanelli), Sam Parry (Llandovery), Will Griff John (Blues / Pontypridd), Macauley Cook (capt, Blues / Cardiff), Cory Hill (Blues / Pontypridd), Ed Siggery (Pontypridd), Luke Hamilton (Blues / Glamorgan Wanderers), Ben Thomas (Ospreys /Bridgend).
Replacements: Ieuan Davies (Cardiff), Will Taylor (Ospreys / Swansea), Matthew Screech (Blues / Pontypridd), Owen Sheppeard (Blues / Pontypridd), Lewis Jones (Pontypridd), Joseff Griffin (Blues / Cardiff), Jack Gadd (Bristol)
Wales Under 20 Six Nations fixtures 2011
Wales 20 – 26 England - Saturday 5 Feb - Parc y Scarlets
Scotland v Wales - Friday 11 Feb - 19.30 – Stirling County RFC, Stirling
Italy v Wales - Friday 25 Feb - 19.00 - Cosenza
Wales v Ireland - Friday 11 March - 19.10 - Parc y Scarlets
France v Wales - Friday 18 March - 20.30 - Albi
Tickets for Wales v Ireland Parc y Scarlets are just £10 for adults and £5 for Under 16s and are available from the Parc y Scarlets ticket office (tel / 0871 871 8088) www.scarlets.co.uk and to personal callers.
For further information, contact Liz Jones WRU communications manager tel 07736 056669 / lizjones@wru.co.uk
