Richard Whiffin has named his Wales U20 side to face Scotland U20 at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday evening in the second round of the U20 Six Nations. (KO 7.15pm). Dylan James of Ospreys is named in the front row.
There are four changes and a positional switch to the starting line-up with two alterations apiece in the pack and the backline.
Ospreys loosehead prop Dylan James replaces George Tuckley who drops down to the bench while Wales co-captain Deian Gwynne switching to blindside flanker to allow Evan Minto a start at No 8.
In the backs, Bailey Cutts will make his debut, replacing his Cardiff Rugby teammate Osian Darwin-Lewis at outside centre while Cardiff Met winger Dylan Scott will also earn his first cap, coming in for Bristol Bears Evan Morris.
Prop Yestyn Cook, second row Oscar Rees and centre Luc Anfield could all earn their first caps from the bench as Wales look to claim their first win of the campaign after narrow defeats to England and France.
“The changes in the backs are through injuries the boys picked up against France and the changes up front with Dylan James at loosehead and Evan Minto at No 8 – we feel they will add a slightly different dynamic to the game,” said Whiffin.
“We think we have played really well and produced two good performances against two of the top teams in the competition where we could have come away with two wins. We’re pleased with the performance disappointed with the results, we’re not really looking too much at the table, we’re looking at our next opponent.
“We know Scotland have had a couple of good performances themselves, winning out in Italy and took England all the way last Friday.
“We know it is going to be a tough encounter this weekend at Cardiff, but we feel if we put in a similar performance like last Friday, we will be in the hunt to pick up a result.”
Wales U20 v Scotland U20, Cardiff Arms Park, Friday 20 Feb, KO 7.15pm
1 Dylan James (Ospreys)
2 Tom Howe (Cardiff Rugby)
3 Jac Pritchard (Scarlets)
4 Luke Evans (Exeter Chiefs)
5 Osian Williams (Bristol Bears)
6 Deian Gwynne (Gloucester – co-Capt)
7 Caio James (Gloucester)
8 Evan Minto (Dragons RFC)
9 Sion Davies (Cardiff Rugby)
10 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets)
11 Tom Bowen (Cardiff Rugby)
12 Steff Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby – co-Capt)
13 Bailey Cutts (Cardiff Rugby).
14 Dylan Scott (Cardiff Met)
15 Rhys Cummings (Cardiff Rugby)
Replacements
16 James Talamai Dragons RFC)
17 George Tuckley (Dragons RFC)
18 Yestyn Cook Scarlets)
19 Oscar Rees (Gloucester)
20 Alex Ridgway (Bath Rugby)
21 Luca Woodyatt (Gloucester)
22 Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff Rugby)
23 Luc Anfield (Bath University)
