Scotland Under-20s coach Kenny Murray has made just one change from his side’s Round 2 loss to Wales ahead of their meeting against France on Friday night.
Scotland have lost to England and Wales in this year’s Six Nations Under-20s, and will hope for a first win of their 2022 campaign when they host Les Bleus at the DAM Health Stadium on Friday.
Ollie Leatherbarrow is the only player brought into the starting XV, with the No.8 having missed Round 2 against Wales after being given the opportunity to feature in Exeter Chiefs’ matchday squad.
Having played as No.8 versus Wales, Matthew Deehan will move to blindside flanker on Friday night while captain Rhys Tait keeps his place as openside flanker.
The front row remains completely unchanged from their last match with loosehead prop Mikey Jones, tighthead prop Gregor Scougall and hooker Paddy Harrison all returning.
Max Williamson and Josh Taylor will start in the second row, having done so against both England and Wales, while scrum-half Murray Redpath and fly-half Christian Townsend also return for a third straight match.
Having made his debut against Wales in Colwyn Bay, inside centre Andy Stirrat picks up his second cap for his country while Duncan Munn will play at outside centre.
Robin McClintock, who plays his club rugby in France for Montpellier, returns at full-back while Ollie Melville and Ross McKnight line up on the wings.
Gregor Hiddleston, Ali Rogers and Callum Norrie are on Murray’s bench and could be brought on to strengthen up the front row if required, while forwards Rudi Brown and Tim Brown could be brought on to make their debuts.
Jonty Cope and Euan Cunningham also feature on the bench, while Thomas Glendenning returns to the international fold after recovering from injury.
Murray said: “We’re still a bit frustrated from the last game against Wales. 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 U20 team to face France on Friday 25 February at DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh (kick-off 8pm, BBCiPlayer)
15 Robin McClintock (Montpellier), 14 Ross McKnight (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors), 13. Duncan Munn (Boroughmuir Bears/Glasgow Warriors), 12 Andy Stirrat (GHA), 11 Ollie Melville (Newcastle University), 10 Christian Townsend (Ayrshire Bulls/Glasgow Warriors), 9 Murray Redpath (Newcastle University); 1 Mikey Jones (Heriot’s Rugby/Edinburgh Rugby), 2 Patrick Harrison, (Edinburgh Rugby), 3 Gregor Scougall (Currie Chieftains), 4 Josh Taylor (Ealing Trailfinders), 5 Max Williamson (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors), 6 Matthew Deehan (Newcastle Falcons), 7 Rhys Tait (Boroughmuir Bears/Glasgow Warriors – captain), 8 Ollie Leatherbarrow (Exeter Chiefs)
Replacements
16 Gregor Hiddleston (GHA), 17 Ali Rogers (Glasgow Hawks), 18 Callum Norrie (Strathallan School), 19 Rudi Brown (Watsonians Rugby/Edinburgh Rugby), 20 Tim Brown (Glasgow Hawks), 21 Jonty Cope (Durham University), 22 Euan Cunningham (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors), 23. Thomas Glendinning(Glasgow Hawks)
