France lead the way after the opening round of Under-20s Six Nations fixtures, but only on points difference after their 32-10 win against Wales.
Italy grabbed a round one 32-22 triumph away in Scotland while Ireland downed England 35-27 to take the spoils at Irish Independent Park.
It does not get any easier for the English who welcome last year’s Championship winners France to Sandy Park on Saturday.
Meanwhile Ireland travel to Netherdale as they look to grab back-to-back wins by beating Scotland on Friday night while Wales face Italy at Stadio Danilo Martelli on Sunday to round off the weekend.
Scotland U20s v Ireland U20s – Friday 8 February, Netherdale, Galashiels, kick-off 7.30pm
Ireland head into the game with Scotland having made just one change from the side that saw off England in their opener.
Cormac Foley, who scored the match-winning try last weekend, comes in at scrum-half in place of Craig Casey, who is ruled out through injury.
Opening round double try-scorer Dylan Tierney-Martin will be a formidable feature of the front row, while Leinster’s Scott Penny will be one to watch in the back row.
Head coach Noel McNamara is expecting another tough challenge.
“It was great to get the Championship off with a win like that, but there’s a new challenge in front of us this Friday,” he said.
“I’ve no doubt Scotland will be hurting from their loss against Italy.
“The players are very much focused on their own jobs for this Friday night, and they’re looking forward to their first away match of the campaign.”
Scotland make three changes to their side following defeat to Italy.
Rufus McLean comes in at full-back while Ewan Ashman and Cameron Henderson move into the pack.
Head coach Carl Hogg said the opening of the 2019 Championship was a learning experience for his side.
“We learned a huge amount from last week,” he said. “In the first game with any new group, there’s a level of uncertainty about what behaviours and information will be retained in the heat of a match.
“This week we have made great strides in training, both in attack and defence, and this will be put to the test against a very good Irish under-20 team, who come in to the match off the back of a victory against England.”
England U20s v France U20s – Saturday 9 February, Sandy Park, Exeter, kick-off 12.05pm
One of the biggest clashes of the Championship as last year’s top two go head to head at the home of Exeter Chiefs.
France won the 2018 Championship, losing only at home to the English, and went on to win the World Rugby Under-20s Championship, beating England in the final last summer.
But England will be looking to bounce back and get their campaign for this year’s trophy underway by beating France on home soil.
There are three changes from the team which lost out to Ireland with Ollie Lawrence and Arron Reed stepping up to replace the injured Fraser Dingwall and Cadan Murley – while Cameron Redpath replaces Tom Hardwick in the No.12 jersey.
Senior England international Ted Hill takes the armband from Dingwall.
England head coach Steve Bates said: “The game against France in the final of the World Rugby U20 Championship will have a little bearing at the weekend but the nature of Under-20s rugby is that it is ever evolving and players change rapidly so although a portion of our squad would have played in that final our motivation is to kick-start our Under-20s Six Nations with an important victory.”
France absolutely flew in their opener, as they scored four tries to see off Wales 32-10 in Vannes.
The backline remains unchanged from the opener but they have shuffled the pack, with openside Sacha Zegueur missing after his late red card in their opener.
Maxence Lemardelet takes his place in the back row, while locks Thomas Lavault and Killan Geraci are both out injured with Florent Vanverberghe and Gauthier Maravat coming in.
Italy U20s v Wales U20s – Sunday 10 February, Stadio Danilo Martelli, Mantua, kick-off 2pm
The climax to this weekend’s Under-20s action sees Italy welcome Wales and hoping to build on their win in Scotland.
They will be looking to build on their 2018 triumph against the Welsh, as they recorded their first-ever win against them in the Championship in 20 attempts.
Meanwhile Wales will be hoping to get their first points on the board of this year’s Championship after defeat to France in round one.
There are three changes as captain Tommy Reffell and Tom Hoppe suffered injuries in France, while second row Jac Price is unavailable for selection after picking up a suspension for a dangerous tackle.
Max Llewellyn comes in for Hoppe in the centre while Ed Scragg and Lennon Greggains are called into the pack, with hooker Dewi Lake taking the captaincy.
Head coach Gareth Williams said: “It was a great measure of where we are last week against the world champions, and the challenge for us this week is to replicate the intensity we mustered for 60 minutes against France.
“There are certain scenarios we need to control more effectively, and Italy will be a confident group following an excellent performance and result against Scotland.
“We remember our loss last year at home, and know the challenges keep coming in this Six Nations.”
Italy are yet to name their line-up for Sunday’s match at Stadio Danilo Martelli.
